How to brew perfect Greek mountain tea: bunch or tea bag?

Greek mountain tea is one of the most forgiving herbal teas: it rarely turns bitter and is hard to get wrong. With a little care, though, the cup becomes far more aromatic. This is how we make it at home.

From the bunch

For 2 cups you need:

• 1 sprig from the bunch (about 3 grams, flowers included)
• 500 ml water
• honey and lemon, if you like

Steps:

1. Break the sprig into 2–3 pieces so it fits in the pot.
2. Put it in cold water and heat until it comes to the boil.
3. Lower the heat, cover and let it simmer for about 5 minutes. The lid keeps the essential oils, and so the aroma, in the pot.
4. Take it off the heat and leave it covered for another 3–5 minutes.
5. Strain and serve.

For a lighter cup, simmer for 2–3 minutes; for a stronger one, up to 10. It has none of the tannins of black tea, so it does not turn bitter even if it sits a while.

From a tea bag

1. Put the tea bag in the cup.
2. Pour over water that has just boiled.
3. Cover the cup with a saucer and leave it for 5–7 minutes.
4. Press the bag gently with a spoon and take it out.

Covering the cup matters here too: without it, part of the aroma escapes with the steam.

Bunch or tea bag?

	Bunch	Tea bags
Aroma	The strongest, because leaves and flowers stay whole until you brew them	Very good, a little milder
Convenience	Needs a pot and a strainer	Just a cup and boiling water
When	At home, for several cups at once, on cold evenings	At the office, when travelling, for a quick cup

Many people keep both: the bunch for home and the tea bags for when they are out.

Honey, lemon and more

• Honey: add it once the tea has cooled slightly from the boil, so it keeps its aroma.
• Lemon: a slice or a few drops go beautifully with the sweet, floral taste of sideritis.
• Cinnamon: a cinnamon stick in the pot makes it a perfect winter drink.

Mountain tea is lovely cold, too. See how we make iced mountain tea for summer.

Sources

• Mia Kouppa: Greek Mountain Tea (Tsai tou vounou)
• Visit Greece: Greek tea
• Lemon & Olives: Greek tea, what it is and how to make it