Albanian Mountain Tea 50g by Tea & Coffee | Teatico
Overview
Sideritis syriaca is the botanical source of Albanian Mountain Tea, one of roughly 150 species in the Sideritis genus that also includes the better-known Greek and Cretan mountain teas. Despite the name, the plant grows across Greece as well as Albania, and the wider family is drunk throughout Albania, Greece, Turkey, North Macedonia and Bulgaria — Bulgaria in fact restricts who may grow and harvest it by law. The cup itself is pale yellow and light in body, with a herbaceous character built on mint and sage, a touch of lemon and vegetal warmth, some medicinal depth, and a smooth, refreshing finish that a few drinkers liken to coffee. It has long been drunk for its supposed effects on digestion, immunity and general wellbeing, and some research points to antioxidant activity comparable to green tea, though none of that should be read as a treatment for anything.
Brew it with freshly boiled water and let it steep for five to ten minutes — longer than a delicate green tea, since the dried stems and leaves need time to give up their flavour. It stands on its own without milk, though a slice of lemon suits it if you want a brighter cup. Tea & Coffee sources this batch and packs it in 50g quantities under the Albanian Mountain Tea name, the label most commonly used for Sideritis syriaca in the UK market even though the same plant crosses borders freely in its native range.