Mountain tea has been a well-known brew for centuries, mainly in the Mediterranean countries, especially during the winter.
Mountain tea comes from the plant Sideritis spp or Sideritis which is believed to have taken its name from the word "iron" thanks to the healing properties it provided to those injured by an iron weapon.
The genus Sideritis includes about 150 species of plants, 17 of which are also found in Greece. The most famous of these are: the Vlach tea, the tea of Malevo, the tea of Evia, the tea of Parnitha, the tea of Parnassus, the tea of Olympus and the malotira or otherwise, Cretan tea.
Greece and Spain are the countries with the highest consumption of mountain tea worldwide.
It is, of course, worth noting that all mountain teas are in danger of disappearing due to overconsumption.
Nutritional value
- It is rich in vitamins such as vitamin C, Vitamin B3 and Riboflavin (B2).
- It contains high concentrations of minerals such as Iron, Calcium, Manganese and Potassium.
- It does not contain caffeine unlike for example black tea and therefore can be taken by people with heart problems safely.
Benefits for the organization
- It fights inflammation
- Fights stress
- It has an antimicrobial effect
- Prevents osteoporosis
- It has cosmetic properties
- It helps the digestive system
- It has an antioxidant effect
- It has expectorant properties
Sources: POWERFOODS
