Depending on the terroir, mountain, and altitude, Sideritis develops different compounds and aromas. In Greece, the tea is so deeply rooted in the culture that it is often simply referred to as “Greek mountain tea”. One of the most renowned terroirs for this tea is the island of Crete, where the cultivar Sideritis syriaca is especially widespread. The plants used in our Cretan mountain tea grow partly wild on elevations up to 900 metres, often near the sea.
Harvesting takes place at the beginning of June, when the plants have reached their highest polyphenol content. The harvest is done exclusively by hand using a sickle, ensuring precise cuts and avoiding unwanted plants. Only the upper stems and flowers are carefully selected. After harvesting, the roots of the Sideritis plants remain in the soil and regenerate naturally. Healthy plants can go through this cycle up to 10 to 15 times, allowing them to be harvested approximately every two years.
After the harvest, the Sideritis plants are taken directly to a warm, dark storage room for drying. The drying process takes 5 to 8 days. During this time, the plants are continuously ventilated to ensure even wilting and drying. Once the plants are fully dried, they are gathered and packaged for sale.
Single Origin
This tea comes 100% from the above-mentioned mountain terroir of Crete. Sourced directly from the tea farmer.
Organic Certification
