Tsikoudia has now been established as a PDO product, representing traditional Crete all over the world. It is of high importance that tsikoudia receives due attention from the initial phase of distillation, bottling, and distribution to the final consumption. Where To Buy Raki In Crete? In Crete, November is the month of “Rakokazano”, as they make their appearance at this time of the year. “Rakokazano” is when a group of people gather up and distil Raki, the same unmistakable way as it has been for years. If you find yourself in Crete this month, look for a mountain village in the hinterland, and you will surely find Rakokazano to attend to. 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. 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. The fresh tsikoudia (protoraki) at this stage is particularly strong, and in traditional cauldrons, where there is no cooling stage, the raki comes out almost hot. It is advised that you not to try too hard and if you want to continue with last year’s tsikoudia collection.

Hope you liked our Greek drinks. What do you prefer beers in Greece, wine in Greece or non alcoholic drinks in Greece? Let us know in the comments below if we are missing something and your favorite Greek beverages. It is both warm in colour and taste and is largely produced in Crete and other islands of the Aegean Sea, as well as on the mainland. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Greek Frappe is of course mixing Nescafe with water, shaken with a shaker to make a froth, and you can add ice cubes for extra coldness. 15. Greek Tsai Tou Vounou (Greek Mountain Tea)

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.

Once the boiling starts, the steam is collected at the top of the boiler, which contains alcohol and water. The steam passes through the pipe, and as it freezes, it liquefies, and the distillate of tsikoudia comes out, and the “protoraki”, which is not drunk but can be used for rubbing due to high degrees. The liquid starts to flow out from the tube. Rakomelo is alocal Greek beverage combining raki or tsipouro with honey and several spices, including cinnamon, cardamom, and other regional herbs. 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

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. The maximum beneficial properties of raki are achieved when the person has already adopted a generally healthy lifestyle, which includes a balanced Mediterranean diet, daily exercise, and as much self-restraint from smoking as possible. What Food Is Raki Best Served With?

You can sleep in a dorm room or a room for €10-25, while you can stay in a budget hotel for as low as €50. There are so many to choose from depending on what type and how luxurious you want your stay to be starting from €100.That being said, the one fact that is indisputable is that a warm glass of mulled wine is the perfect companion for a cold winters day! So lets get started preparing your own homemade Greek style mulled wine with this super easy recipe! And while you are at it, might as well start preparing some melomakarona and kourabiedes to accompany!

Thus, after the barrels are placed in the cauldron are layered, the so-called “amphika” is placed over this lid, which they then put dough around to prevent the steam from escaping as they boil, while a tube is placed on top and passes through a tank (cooler) with cold water. Rakokazano is a social phenomenon and a big festival in Crete. The distillation of tsikoudia is at its peak, and the rakokazano have their honour, being a special meeting point of fun and merriment for everyone. Tsikoudia is a single-distillation drink, unlike Ouzo and Tsipouro. The grapes or tsikoudia, which are then pressed grapes with skins and seeds intended for tsikoudia, are kept for about 40 days after pressing in barrels where they “boil”, and fermentation takes place. The barrels are transported and placed by the distiller in the cauldron, which is placed on a base. When it is time to boil, they are put into the boiler with water. Underneath, they light a wood fire, where the grapes begin to boil. The fire should be neither too strong nor too loose. The intensity of the fire is important so that the grapes do not sizzle or burn, and the tsikoudia smokes and gets a bad smell. The distillation continues before our eyes. It is similar to tsipouro from mainland Greece, the rakı family, as well as Albanian: rakia, Spanish: orujo, Italian: grappa, French: marc, Georgian: chacha, Portuguese: bagaceira, Bulgarian: ракия, romanized: rakiya, Macedonian: ракија, romanized: rakija, Serbo-Croatian: rakija / ракија (in Istria: grappa), Romanian: tescovină, Hungarian: törköly. In the eastern part of Crete tsikoudia is commonly referred to as raki, but apparently less so in the west. 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.In Crete, the alcohol content is determined with a Baumé hydrometer, a calibrated glass tube that floats in the liquid. The alcohol content can be determined using a scale. Raki is good at 17 degrees Baumé (40% alc.) Or sometimes at 18 degrees Baumé (43% alc.). What is Rakokazano? 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.