Greek beverages

Ouzo is as synonymous with Greece as feta cheese and Greek salad. Other famous drinks are retsina and metaxa. Ouzo is flavoured with anise and is drunk by the Greeks with food, or as a drink. Many people prefer to drink it with a little water or an ice cube, it then becomes milky white and does not taste as strong.

Ouzo from Lesvos. The picture is from Sigri in Lesvos.

Ouzo is actually a really good mealtime drink. Feel free to order a mezedes and a small bottle of ouzo and try it yourself, you won't be disappointed. There are a plethora of brands and producers. In my opinion, the best ouzo is produced on the island of Lesvos. Not only I think so, most Greeks think so too. On Lesvos there are many small producers, and some of the country's most famous. The biggest producers are Plomari and Barbayiannis. Both are close to Lesvos' second largest town, Plomari.

Ouzo is a very good mealtime drink. The picture is from Telendos.

Metaxa is the Greek variant of cognac which, like the French, is graded with stars. The one with the lowest quality has three stars, then five stars, seven stars and 12 stars. Other variants are called Metaxa Grande Fine, Metaxa Angels Treasure and Metaxa AEN. I once bought a bottle of Metaxa that had as many as forty stars and was said to be forty years. But in taste there was no difference between it and one of twelve stars. But the bottle was elegant.

Raki is something to love or hate. The picture is from Chania in Crete.

Raki, or Tzikoudia, is something of a national drink in Crete. Nobody escapes raki when one are in Crete. After every meal, you are usually offered a glass of raki, or a small bottle of raki. Some think it's delicious (like me), others think it tastes like kerosene. Rakomelo is a drink consisting raki, honey and cinnamon. It is usually served hot. It tastes very good!

Souma is another variation of raki. This particular one is produced in the village of Siana in Rhodes.

Rakomelo is raki with honey and cinnamon. The picture is from Chora in Folegandros.

The most famous wine in Greece is retsina. The wine has a taste of resin which may seem unpleasant the first time it is drunk. I can promise that you will get used to it quite soon, you just have to not give up. Some enjoy it after just one drink, while others never learn. But once you accept the taste, it's hard to understand what tasted so bad.

I think Malamatina is very good! The picture is from Nea Chora in Crete.

The resin comes from the pine tree and is added during the fermentation process. As with ouzo, there are countless different brands. The basic taste is the same, but they taste more or less resin. The biggest brand is probably Kourtaki. Kourtaki is a good retsina, but there are better ones, including CAIR, Malamatina and Georgiadi.

CAIR from Rhodes is one of my favourites. The picture is from Livadia in Tilos.

Many people order a carafe of wine and drink it from small Duralex glasses. Picture from Parikia in Paros.

Otherwise, it is generally white wines that are produced in Greece, although the red is coming more and more. The wines from Santorini taste very good and the reason is said to be that the grapes grow in lava soil. Before, you could order local wines in carafes. Ordering carafes are still possible, but they rarely contains locally produced wines. In most tavernas, it is bag-in-box wines in the carafes. But it can still taste good. Usually you don't order a bottle, usually you order wine by kilo. One kilo corresponds to one liter.

Dessert wine from Samos is best drunk on the harbour promenade in Pythagorion.

FIX is my favourite beer in Greece. The picture is from Taverna Kalderimi in Chania.

When it comes to beer, microbreweries that produce really good craft beers have become increasingly common in recent years. Even on small islands such as Tinos (Nisos) and Santorini (Volcano) local beer is brewed. Many taste excellent.

Volkan beer from Santorini.

Amstel is one of the most common beer brands in Greece. The picture is from Agios Prokopios in Naxos.

As for the most common beers, found in shops and tavernas, there are not many Greek beers left. Amstel, Alfa and Zorba are owned by Heineken, but produced in Greece. Mythos is owned by Carlsberg, but brewed in Greece. The company that produces FIX is called Olympic Brewery and is 51% owned by Carlsberg.

A cold FIX always tastes good. The picture is from Agios Antonios in Tilos.

Whoever owns it, I prefer FIX (tastes like a good Czech lager) if it's available, and if there's no FIX I'll order Amstel, and if it's not available I can imagine a Vergina, which is still Greek. As for whether Amstel or Mythos tastes better, I like Amstel over Mythos. It's probably because I've been drinking Amstel in Greece since ancient times. Another beer that tastes very good is Mamos.

A cold Mamos is also always good. The picture is from Agios Georgios on Agathonissi.

Coffee comes in several varieties. If you order a cup of coffee, you will probably be asked if you want Nescafé or Greek coffee. Coffee from a coffee maker is quite unusual, but is available in some larger restaurants. Greek coffee is prepared in a coffee pot called "briki". The pot is often made of copper and has a long handle. Into the pot you put a few teaspoons of very finely ground coffee beans, sugar (if wanted) and water. This is then allowed to boil up and then it is served in tiny cups made of thick porcelain. When ordering your coffee you choose how sweet you want your coffee (plain, medium, sweet) and if you want milk in it. I think the Greek version of coffee is delicious, but it's like retsina, you have to get used to it. At the bottom of the cup is the coffee grounds, which are not so yummy to drink.

A frappé is never wrong. The picture from Megalos Mourtias in Alonissos.

The Greek version of iced coffee is called frappé and is served in a drinking glass. For preparation, use a frappé mixer. Or a cocktail shaker. Pour water into the shaker, top up with instant coffee. Then just shake for all you've got until it becomes a thick mass, then you add a few ice cubes, push down a straw and serve. Here, too, you choose whether you want milk or sugar. Feel free to try drinking the frappé with vanilla ice cream, it's super delicious!

Read more about Greek ouzo here »

Can you drink the water in Greece? The answer is here »

Read Greek food here »