Well, let me tell ya ’bout some Greek drinks, you know, the kind they have over there in that Greece place. I ain’t never been, but my grandson, he told me a thing or two.
The Strong Stuff, Ya Know, Like Grandpa Used to Drink
First off, they got this thing called Ouzo. Sounds fancy, huh? It’s like that clear liquor, the kind that makes your eyes water just smellin’ it. They make it in these big copper pots, mixin’ it with water and this stuff called aniseed, and some other herbs and spices. My grandson says it tastes like licorice, but I ain’t so sure ’bout that. He says folks drink it when they’re eatin’ Greek food, specially by the sea when it’s hot. Makes sense, I guess, somethin’ strong to cool ya down.
- Ouzo is real popular, seems like everyone knows about it.
- They put aniseed in it, that’s what gives it that smell.
- And some other stuff too, like fennel and cloves, whatever those are.
Then there’s this other drink, Tsipouro, and another one called Raki. Sound kinda the same to me, all strong and clear, like that Ouzo stuff. They make ’em the old way, in them distilleries, been doin’ it for years and years, just like my grandma used to make her own bread. My grandson says these drinks are for celebrations, like weddings and such. Folks must like to get a good buzz goin’ when they’re havin’ fun.
Mastiha, now that’s a funny name. It’s another liquor, but not like the others. My grandson says it’s kinda sweet, but still strong, got a kick to it. It ain’t got that aniseed stuff, but it tastes somethin’ like it, plus some mint, he says. I tell ya, these Greeks, they like their fancy drinks.
The Soft Stuff, for When You Don’t Want a Headache
Now, not everyone wants that strong stuff all the time. Sometimes you just want somethin’ to wet your whistle, ya know? My grandson told me they got plenty of other drinks too, stuff that won’t make you see double.
They got this mint sparkling water. Sounds kinda nice, huh? My grandson says mint is good for ya, helps with your tummy and all. And it’s bubbly, so it’s kinda fancy. I bet it’d be real nice on a hot day, much better than that plain ol’ water from the well.
And then there’s Frappe. I ain’t rightly sure what that is, but it sounds like somethin’ you drink when you’re thirsty. My grandson says it’s some kind of cold coffee drink, maybe with ice. Sounds like somethin’ them city folks would drink.
Juice, Like Mama Used to Make, But Greek Style
They also got fruit juices, but not just any ol’ juice. My grandson says they use real Greek fruit, no added sugar, none of that fake stuff. And they got this mountain tea, I ain’t never heard of such a thing, but he says it’s natural and good for ya. They make all sorts of drinks from fruit, to quench your thirst. Sounds like they got somethin’ for everyone, even picky eaters like my sister Martha.
All Kinds of Drinks, For All Kinds of Folks
So, there ya have it, a little bit ’bout Greek drinks. From the strong stuff that’ll knock your socks off, to the sweet stuff that’ll cool ya down, they got it all. Makes me want to go visit this Greece place, just to try all them drinks myself. Maybe my grandson will take me someday, if he can get me on one of them airplane things. I hear they have food too, so after all that drinkin’, you can get some nourishment in ya.
Looking for something to quench your thirst in a Greek restaurant? Now you know what to look for. Ouzo, Tsipouro, Raki if you want to feel the kick, Mastiha for something sweet and different, or just go for the refreshing sparkling water, frappe or fruit juice. And if you can get your hands on some of that real Greek fruit juice, you are in for a treat. Seems to me like they know how to make a good drink over there in Greece.
