My inlaws are Greek. Like hundreds and thousands of others, they moved to Montreal in the fifties from Crete. Ultimately this means that as well as adopting their extremely long last name, I get to enjoy Cretan cuisine on a regular basis. Boureki happens to be a firm favourite as well as a special tea, which for my benefit has always been referred to as "Greek mountain tea". It's real name is Malotira and it grows wild in the Cretan mountains near the villages where both my husband's parents grew up.
I have been suffering for the last few weeks with cold after cold and a cough which I can't shake. On a visit this weekend to the inlaws, Yaya gave me mountain tea with honey (from Crete, of course) to ease my cough. It does always seem to do the trick so I googled it to find out that it's very popular and used for many ailments including colds, respiratory problems and digestion to name a few.
Normally I'm strictly a builder's tea kind of person and snub anything remotely herbal or fruity (apart from the odd cup of chamomile) but this stuff is tasty indeed. And, because I could never possibly leave my inlaw's empty handed, I returned home with my very own little stash of mountain tea.
Cheers!
Feel better soon. How's about a Greek Salad? Now, that sounds good for dinner too me.
Posted by: The Garden Bell - Kate | February 15, 2010 at 05:22 PM
Hope the tea does the trick and you're on the mend already!
Posted by: dottycookie | February 15, 2010 at 06:14 PM
I hope that it works its magic and you're back on your feet in no time.
(I'm a poor excuse for an Englishwoman - I don't drink tea. Americans do keep gifting me tea, though...)
Posted by: UK lass in US | February 15, 2010 at 11:34 PM
If I liked tea I could do with some too, one illness after another so far this year. Hope it's mountain magic gives you a boost.
Posted by: French Knots | February 16, 2010 at 02:27 AM
The tea looks such a beautiful colour. Get well soon
Posted by: Joanna | February 16, 2010 at 04:37 AM
Oh I do hope you mend soon - that tea sounds delicious x
Posted by: Emma | February 16, 2010 at 06:07 AM
The tea sounds wonderful! I hope you feel better soon!
Posted by: Teresa | February 16, 2010 at 10:16 AM
I had a dear friend in highschool that was Greek and her mom could cook like no one else. Your blog always makes me smile and want to go to the thrift store. I hope you are feeling much better.
susan from Missouri
Posted by: Susan | February 16, 2010 at 10:49 AM
sounds like wonderful medicine to me xoxox
Posted by: driftwood | February 17, 2010 at 03:48 PM
I need a cup of that tea tonight!
Posted by: jessica | February 17, 2010 at 07:34 PM
Crete Mountain tea...
Posted by: Carine De Baets | February 21, 2010 at 06:54 PM
Sounds like the perfect cure! Hope you are feeling better soon!
Posted by: Sew Create It - Jane | February 22, 2010 at 03:24 PM