Ouzo from Greece

Ouzo is as synonymous with Greece as souvlaki, feta cheese and Greek salad. Other famous drinks are retsina, metaxa and raki, or kerosene as some call the latter drink. 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. Others mix out the ouzo with, for example, Fanta or orange juice. Personally, I prefer to drink ouzo with some ice cubes. Ouzo is protected by the EU and may only be produced in Greece and production is strictly controlled.

Ouzo Samara from Lesvos. The picture is from Skala Eressou.

Liquorice-tasting spirits are not only found in Greece. Most often they are flavoured with anise, liquorice root, fennel and/or star anise. Examples of liquorice-flavoured drinks similar to ouzo are Raki from Turkey, Sambuca from Italy, Perno and Pastis from France, as well as Nyköpings Brännvin from Sweden.

There are many different kinds of ouzo to buy at duty free in Greece.

Is there any difference between ouzo and ouzo? Many people think it tastes the same. (Or just as bad.) Well, there is actually a difference, and if there is anywhere you have the opportunity to notice a difference, it is on Lesvos, where there are countless different brands and makes. On Lesvos, ouzo is seasoned with aniseed, and sometimes together with mastic, ginger and cinnamon.

Ouzo from Lesvos. Picture is from the village of Sigri in Lesvos.

The ouzo that most people associate with Greece is Ouzo 12. It is not made on Lesvos, there it is considered something that the cat dragged home, it is not real ouzo, people say, real ouzo must come from Lesvos. End of story.

Ouzo 12 and Plomari. I prefer the latter.

But ouzo is produced everywhere in Greece. Samos is also quite famous for its ouzo. In Athens there is the bar Brettos where they make a very good ouzo. I like the ouzo produced at Vallindras Kitron Distillery on Naxos, it is really tasty. In Rhodes you can buy ouzo flavoured with coffee and it is delicious. I could list any number of varieties, because ouzo is made, as I said, all over Greece.

Ouzo from Samos. The picture is from Pythagorion.

Ouzo from Lesvos.

My favourite is Pitsiladi and it can almost only be bought on Lesvos. Another favourite is Plomari, it is sold all over Greece. Other famous brands from Lesvos are Mini and Barbayianni.

Ouzo Pitsiladi from Lesvos is my favourite.

In the shadow of a little Ouzo. The picture is from Kardamili in the Peloponnese.

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 some restaurants on Lesvos there are more than 20 different kinds of ouzo to choose from. We drink ouzo with food as often as we drink retsina.

Gavros marinatos with Plomari ouzo. The picture is from Patitiri on Alonissos.

Fish and seafood pikilia with Plomari ouzo. The picture is from Telendos.

A glass of Plomari and grilled octopus as a snack is really yummy. The picture is from Naxos town.

Barbayianni Green Ouzo and a platter of Pikilia. The picture is from Tinos town.

Just before the village of Agios Isidoros on Lesvos is the famous Barbayianni ouzo distillery. Ouzo has been made here since 1860 and is still made today. In the beginning, there was only one kind of ouzo: Barbayianni Blue. Today, four brands are marketed: Barbayianni Blue, Barbayianni Green, Barbayianni Aphrodite and Barbayianni Evzon. Green is the weakest (42%) and Aphrodite is the strongest (48%). Approximately 1,000 litres of ouzo are produced per day. There is a museum in the same building as the distillery.

Ouzo Distillery Barbayianni in Agios Isidoros on Lesvos.

If you don't ouzo, you can buy an t-shirt with ouzo-print instead. There are many to choose from.

READ MORE ABOUT OUZO FROM GREECE

Lesvos - the ouzo lover's paradise »

Greek side dishes that go well with Ouzo »

Other Greek beverages »