Roots - Rakomelo 70cl Bottle

Product Information

Raki or tsikoudia always accompanies the social events of the Cretans. Whether in company or alone, Cretans share pains and joys with the transparent, fragrant spirit. Therefore, the production of tsikoudia could not have an important place in the rural life of the Cretans. The popularity of raki increases with every passing day. It is often famous for its 100% natural without preservatives and additives, an authentic distillate full of flavours and aromas. One thing you should know is that Raki should never be consumed plain. It has to be accompanied by tasty appetisers and other treats. You can enjoy it with Cretan foods like rusks, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and cheese, seasonal vegetables such as beans and artichokes in the spring, fresh fruit in the summer, or homemade pastries. GET HEYMONDO QUOTE HERE plus A SPECIAL DISCOUNT Greek Drinks: Best Greek Beverages And Non Alcoholic Drinks In Greece 1. OUZO Ayranis a cold savory yoghurt that you can find in East Europe. You can have it anytime of the day for breakfast, lunch and even dinner. I loved Ayran when eating street food and prices are around €1-2. 19. SOUMADA Now this drink has spices like the mulled wine, but it also has Greece’s favorite sweetener: honey. It is often considered a home remedy for a sore throat, a small shot consumed in the evening.

Rakiis the most popular of the Greek drinks considered as Greece’s national drink. Raki is made from distilled grapes and anise. Straight Raki will be the popular national drink, while Mastikha will be the Raki version prepared with gum mastic. 3. RETSINA WINE During this resting stage, the grapes are fermented. Fermentation is a process in which sugars are converted into alcohol, and the so-called alcohol fermentation takes place. Once the fermentation has been created and when it has matured and is suitable, the next stage is distillation, which usually takes place in October and November.

Rakomelo Ingredients

A similar drink is baked raki, which is a regional drink of the island of Amorgos, known as psimeni, made from raki, sugar and spices, and served at room temperature. Baked raki contains more spices than rakomelo, which usually only contains cinnamon. [4] Baked raki is also available mixed and bottled, ready for consumption (served at room temperature). [1] [4] Composition [ edit ] Rakomelo is alocal Greek beverage combining raki or tsipouro with honey and several spices, including cinnamon, cardamom, and other regional herbs. Tsikoudia ( Greek: τσικουδιά, romanized: tsikoudiá, literally " terebinth"), also often called raki ( Greek: ρακή, romanized: rakí) in the eastern part of Crete, is an alcoholic beverage, a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Cretan origin that contains 40% to 65% alcohol by volume. [1] Tsikoudia is made by distilling of pomace, what remains of grapes pressed in winemaking. The pomace ferments for about six weeks in a tightly sealed barrel, and is then distilled. The quality of raki is measured in degrees Celsius. A good quality raki is usually at 20 degrees. The distillation process is finished as soon as all the grapes have reached the desired level in the kettle. This popular winter drink is usually served warm and you will definitely find it in mountainous and ski areas and is also often used as a home remedy that helps fight a common cold.

One very similar beverage to mulled wine that originates from Greece is actually rakomelo from the island of Crete. It is made by combining raki or Tsipouro with honey and several spices, such as cinnamon and consumed during the winter as a warm drink. Usually, the gatherings in the rakokazano with good company and under the sounds of the Cretan lyra with mantinades and songs that praise the everyday life, the joys, sorrows, and love certainly get the blessing of the positive energy of the participants for its production.

Rakomelo Drink Recipe Instructions

The last one is Tsikoudia Raki by Vassilakis Estate. It consists of beautiful olive groves and is well-known for the production of excellent olive oil. Among the olive groves, there are some areas where the Vassilaki family cultivates their own vineyards to make their own homemade wine and famous traditional tsikoudia which they bottle in small quantities. You will find Tsikoudia Vassilakis available in 700ml and 200ml bottles. Tsikoudia is sometimes served cold from a bottle kept in a freezer. This is commonly offered as an after dinner digestif, and in most tavernas in Crete it is offered as a complimentary digestif with fruits and sweets after the meal. Nutritionally, yes you have the honey and the spices that can offer some antioxidants, also it is important to note that studies have found that other alcoholic drinks other than wine also contain some protective antioxidants. Also let’s not forget that drinking raki was part of the famous Cretan diet, where men there had virtually no heart disease (in the 60’s). While home distillation of alcoholic beverages is not legal, traditional distillation is still done today in “pots stills” only when you have a licence from the state. The custom of Rakokazano was institutionalised by Eleftherios Venizelos, the first Greek Prime Minister, in 1920, when special licences for Rakokazana were given to Cretan farmers. To date, there is at least one resident in every village with a licence to produce Raki. The owner of the licence also owns the place where the cauldron is hosted. Traditionally, licences are passed down from father to son. Of course, if someone wants to, he can “sell” the Rakokazano licence to a villager, just like taxi licences in the cities. Licence owners are allowed to cook raki for their own use for 48 hours, with a legal limit of 400 litres. However, fees must also be paid for this personal use. This regime results in widespread illegal distillery with very severe penalties and the closure and confiscation of the licence. One thing for sure is that nowadays, the issuing of a Kazani licence is limited, so look for a licence from the time of your great-grandfathers.

Soumadais a traditional drink in Greece produced Crete. Soumada is a non-alcoholic almond-based beverage with syrup. Soumada is made with a mixture of fresh, locally-grown almonds, sugar and water simmered in sugar syrup. 20. Visinada Cretan Raki, also known as Tsikoudia, is the pomace brandy. Raki is available in all parts of Crete and is served on every occasion. It is the art of lifestyle and social communication between the Cretans, as there will be no mingling about without this drink in the foray. It lightens the mood and brings out the best in people. Many would think that the purpose of this drink would be to get drunk. However, that is not the case with this one. Raki is brought out while sharing the meal, in traditional cafes, or greeting the guests to break the ice that may have settled over otherwise. It helps in keeping the atmosphere cheerful and in good spirits. Raki is protected by the European Union as it is a registered trademark and is only considered to be original if it is produced in its original location. Nevertheless, it is not the only spirit on the protected list, such as brandy from Jerez, grappa from Barolo, Berliner Kümmel, Genièvre Flandres Artois, Scotch whiskey, Irish whiskey, and cognac. Rakomelo ( Greek: ρακόμελο (or racomelo, from raki ( ρακή) + meli ( μέλι), meaning " honey") is a Greek mixed alcoholic drink. [1] It is a digestive spirit, traditionally used by many Greeks as a home remedy for a sore throat or cough. [2] Types [ edit ] You might get confused between these two Mediterranean drinks quite easily. When comparing raki with ouzo, there are a few significant differences. First off, Raki has Turkish roots while Ouzo is a beverage that originated in Greece. Yes, the distillation method used in both produces a distinct aniseed flavour by using grape pulp. The alcoholic volumes do, however, vary. The primary difference is that Raki is much, much stronger than Ouzo. You can definitely taste the difference even if you can’t see it. Raki vs Cretan Beers Greek coffeeis a strong brew of coffee served with foam on the top (kaimaki) and the grounds at the bottom of the cup. It is a style of coffee prepared using very finely ground coffee beans without filtering. “Ellinikos Kafes” is prepared in a special pot, called briki, which comes in different sizes, to create the right amount of foam.In the region of ​​Sitia, in eastern Crete, the land is ideal for the cultivation of vineyards. The grape varieties that grow there are used to produce wines and tsikoudia with unique qualitative characteristics. From the organic vineyards of Ktima Toplou is produced a fine tsikoudia distillate that is distinguished for its special aromas and superior quality. However, the diamond of the Ktima Toplou is its aged raki – tsikoudia that is produced from freshly glued marks and is aged in oak barrels. As in most greek islands, driving in Crete are slightly different than in other areas. Make sure to follow these regulations, and your trip throughout Crete should be a breeze. Just keep in mind that in Crete, traffic travels on the right side of the road and must yield to cars approaching from that direction. Additionally, this implies that vehicles entering a traffic circle are given the right of way while vehicles already in the process must yield. As far as alcohol limitations are concerned, 50mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood is the legal limit in Greece. This amounts to 0.05% of the total. That is equivalent to less than in the USA or the UK, and The table at the rakokazano can be simple or extravagant. In any case, local traditional products will certainly make an appearance either as appetisers or as a main course. The charcoal and the hovel of the cauldron fire, of course, provide the solution either as a cooking or heating fire, except for the tsikoudia. Potatoes oftes, which are whole potatoes with the skin roasted in the hot ashes, apaki and sausages on the charcoal, plenty of local goats cooked against the fire, accompany the “protoraki”, which is the fresh batch of raki. And, of course, the seasonal Cretan products: fresh walnuts, chestnuts, pomegranates, apples, and quinces, which give colour to the table. Does Raki have any Health Benefits? In other countries you have mulled wine or glogg, but in Greece we like our wine plain and cool. However, we do have rakomelo. The word is the combination of raki (Cretan distilled drink also known as tsikoudia-not to be confused with the Turkish raki) Rakomelo, a delectable blend of Raki (Crete's traditional spirit) and locally made honey, is the ideal alcoholic beverage to enjoy during the harsh winter months. It's even betterwhen spiced upwith cloves and cinnamon. During the summer, some people drink it at room temperature or even ice-cold, but the warm versionis more popular.

Greek Beer is a must in Greece especially if you are visiting with warm weather. The most popular of the beers in Greece is Mythos which is a lager. Other popular beers in Greece are Alpha and Fix 7. Tsipouro Apart from being served Rakomelo in a cafe, bar, or taverna, you can buy this bottled in shops that sell traditional Greek products, especially Cretan ones. Get into the holiday spirit with hot red wine mulled with cinnamon, cloves and honey (krasomelo)! Mulled wine recipe – Variations

Mulled wine recipe – Variations

Mulled wine is a beverage made with red wine along with various of spices, like cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, peppercorn, star anise or cardamom. Lots of variations include dried fruit such as raisins or lemon or orange rind. But Greeks like to keep it simple with just cinnamon and clove and of course some good quality of Greece’s favorite sweetener, honey. Cretan Raki is a locally distilled, crystal clear spirit, solely made from grapes, without any additives or preservatives. It is a strong digestive drink with 40% to 65% alcohol percentage. For Cretans, it is considered a sign of friendship, nobility and a great social conversation starter. What are the facts around the drink of Raki? The final amount of distilled liquid contains the least amount of alcohol, while the actual raki is made in the middle of the whole process. This takes about three hours. During this time, the kettle owners must taste the alcohol content, turn the heat up or down, and finally stop the distillation when the raki has achieved the desired taste.