Every culture has their favorite cup of something. Have you tried Greece's? Ohhh I have, years ago, and I'm still drinking shepherd's tea or Greek Mountain Tea... Luckily, while in Greece this January, we made a last minute dash to stack up on this rare tea.
Not so well know outside of Greece but time honored within Greece, it grows only at higher alpine altitudes, hence the shepherd affiliation. The Greeks call it Tsai tou vou nou; its botanical name is Sideritis syriaca.
Shepherd's Tea is a very warming, stimulating beverage most known for its beneficial effects on the upper respiratory tract in relieving coughs and lung congestion. It also benefits the stomach and digestion, as well as the immune system. Scientific studies have shown that Shepherd's Tea has considerable immune boosting activity in reducing excessive inflammation and edema, as well as antimicrobial activity. Shepherd's Tea also relieves mild anxiety and contains many antioxidants.