Herbs are a source of well-being and life! Their therapeutic action invigorates and strengthens the organism. Their beneficial properties have been known thorough antiquity and all ancient cultures used them to relieve pain, fight illness and reach emotional states of calmness and well-being. Their strength and importance was such that many believed that they possessed “magical abilities”!
We here at Coffee Island, have gathered varieties of the most beneficial types of herbs and we put them within your grasp, so you can enjoy the power of nature in a cup.
Our herbs are gathered by local producers, who through their dedication and love for their work hand gather them from the mountainsides and valleys where they grow.
So we present to you:
First of all, tea, the King of the mountain! Its official name is Sideritis syriaca which mean the “one who is made from iron”, because of its rich properties. Mountain tea is nothing like regular tea! It is filled with taste, with intense aromas and can be consumed warn or cold, with the superb addition of honey.
It has antioxidant and southing properties, helps with digestion and fortifies the immune system. An extra drink that you can get at Coffee Island is Cascara made from the dried pulp of the coffee cherry. It is an especially aromatic drink, sweet and fruity that contains ¼ of the caffeine the coffee bean has. More about Cascara and its history can be found in our next article.
One more widely known drink is chamomile. It may seem” humble” in appearance, but its properties hide a great healing power! Its healing properties have been known since antiquity and by many different cultures such as the ancient Greeks and Romans while Egyptian and Scandinavian made chamomile offering to the Gods of the sun. Its name literally means “apple that is low” and its names origins can be found with the ancient Greeks and was given because of the subtle apple aroma it exudes. Its taste is characteristic because of its fruity tones. It can be found in great clusters in Macedonia and Thessaly and other parts where it is gathered at early morning hours when it also blooms. Its southing and muscle relaxing properties have made it especially popular today. Its uses are many but nothing can compare with the smooth taste of a warm cup of chamomile tea before sleep.
Charming Louisa is used both to make a drink and in cooking as it gives a lemon flavor to food! It is a relative species to lemon grass, scientifically named Lemon Vebena, a plant that originates from South America that has adapted perfectly to our Mediterranean climate. Louisa is well known for its strong citrus flavor that strongly resembles lemon. Its modern name is derived from the Princess of Parma , Maria Louisa. It is a deciduous shrub, that has adjusted perfectly to Greece’s Mediterranean climate. It has antioxidant, southing and analgesic properties while it helps avoid fluid retention and helps with digestion. This tasty drink is appropriate for any hour of the day and especially after meals.
For health and well-being sage is the best ally to have! It has taken its Latin name Salvia from the verb salvere which means “I am healthy” The ancient Greeks dedicated it to Zeus as a holy herb! It originates from the mountains of Achaia in Peloponnese and from the area of Margaritio Thesprotias in Epirus. The sage drink is especially aromatic, with citrus elements! It can be consumed with the addition of honey for sweetness. Greek sage is considered to be one of the highest quality varieties.
Undeniably, one of our favorite herbs is mint! It has been used since antiquity for cooking, scents and medicine! Peppermint as mint is otherwise known to us is a special category of mint. It is believed that it originates from the crossing of green mint and watermint. According to legend, it got its name from the nymph Minthy that Hades fell in love with but turned to the plant so she could avoid Persephone’s jealousy. Mint tea has soothing and relaxing properties. It is the perfect drink to have at the beginning of your day that gives you a sense of freshness!
Beautiful Lavender with its characteristic purple flowers, is gathered from the Erimanthos mountain of Achaia, the mountain of Artemis! It is well known for its relaxing and soothing properties and is used both for a tea and as an aroma! Its name derives from the Latin verb Lavare which means wash. It grows in clusters that grow from 60-80 cm and has a velvety texture with grayish green leaves. Lavender is thought to be used as a cosmetic by Queen Cleopatra. It has a strong taste with southing and relaxing properties with bitter tones. It is similar to rosemary and that’s why it’s used as a spice in cooking. We can say that it is a herb with… essence that brings down the myth that it is only pretty to look at.
Mixes of herbs enhance the taste and give as an extra kick, by combining the traits of two or more herbs. The mix of mountain tea and mint is an incredible tonic, while its sweet taste gives as a long-lasting, enjoyable aftertaste. Another strong combination is a mix of Lemon balm, mint and lavender. Its invigorating aroma of lemon gives a sense of freshness and vitality. The power of nature is enclosed within a small tea spoon of mixed herbs! We resent them to you so they can invigorate and delight you!
Try our handpicked varieties and enjoy our taste filled drinks which will become your new favorite habit. Feel the difference from the first cup!
