Beverages

Rakomelo, a hot honey spiced brandy, is typically consumed during cold weather. Bottles of the spiced spirit are available in retail shops throughout Greece but the flavors aren’t nearly as appealing as a freshly mulled batch. Traditionally prepared with brandy known as Tsipouro, grappa or grape brandy will also do the trick. Served straight in a short glass or “sfinaki” served straight and consumed from a shot glass or “sfinaki”. It is meant to be sipped slowly and enjoyed. Ingredients 8 ounces tsipouro, grappa, or unaged grape brandy 3 whole cloves 2 cinnamon sticks 1 tablespoon honey Preparation Combine the liquor,…

Greek frappé coffee is hugely popular in Greece, especially during the hot summer months. The particularity of this drink is that it requires the use of instant coffee in order to obtain its characteristic foamy head. While Nestle’s Nescafe instant coffee has become synonymous with frappé in Greece, most instant coffee will do for preparing this drink. You may notice under the preparation steps that we used a frothing machine. A handheld frother or cocktail shaker will also do the trick, which I will discuss in more detail below. Greek frappé being quite concentrated, is often served with a glass of water.…

As much as Italian coffees such as cappuccino and espresso have gained popularity in the United States, Greek coffees are still relatively unknown. Outside of specialty cafes or restaurants, you will be hard pressed to find a coffee shop that serves Greek coffee or what might be better labeled as Mediterranean coffee given that it is enjoyed throughout the region, not just Greece. Although this type of coffee does require a certain familiarity with roasted brews, it is surprising that it isn’t more prevalent at coffee houses. In addition to its unique flavor, the coffee’s preparation is fun to watch, and the…