Some days ago a steemian named @ebryan post some poetic comments below my post! I had wrote about a cold coffee we drink here in Greece. I think that when he read Greece he remembered his holidays there and I can undrestand the feelings the images and the smells who make him the atmosphaire of greek islands cause I have been there too.
With his poetic descriptions I've imagined myself at Ithaca near the sea drinking an aromatic cocktail with the flavour of ouzo. So this cocktail is an inspiration that my friend @ebryan gave me.
Τhe name of the cocktail is Ouzito and it is a variation of the famous Mochito.
The ingredients I put are:
60ml OUZO
1 lemon
brown sugar
Soda (you can put lemonade instead of soda. I like sour flavours so I put soda)
30ml simple syroup
some leaves of spearmint
In a glass put the half of a lemon cut in 4 pieces with the brown sugar!
with a muddler press the lemon and the sugar to let the lemon juices free and the sugar to melt.
Then add the spearmint leaves, crushed ice and mix it very well with a spoon.
fisnish with soda or lemonade!
for decor put some leaves of spearmint and a slice of lemon..
Ouzito is ready!!
SOME WORLDS ABOUT OUZO
Shortly after the war of Greek independence, mass production of this special drink took shape. This anise flavored drink is served as an aperitif in Greece. This lovely drink captivates the Greek spirit more than anything else. In 2006 the Greek government gained exclusive rights to the name, and thus, if it’s not made in Greece, it can’t be called ouzo. If you head to Greece, you’ll see “ouzeries” where this stuff flows like water. It is served with Greek appetizers (mezedes), such as: octopus, bread, baked fish, feta and olive oil, olives, etc.,
Ouzo is clear and silky, with a distinct licorice flavor, ouzo is distilled from the must or remnants of grapes pressed for wine. It can be flavored with spices like anise, mint, mastic, and coriander. Potent and fiery, it is not a drink for the faint of heart. It has an alcohol content of about 40% (depending on the brand) but also a high sugar content that delays the release of the alcohol into your system. Drinkers are advised to use caution because the effects of ouzo will sneak up on you!!
One of the great things about Greek ouzo is its transformation when iced water is added. When first poured into a glass, ouzo it is clear. However, when water is added, it becomes cloudy (the oils produced from anise are not soluble in water) .
Ouzo can be used in cooking to add a distinct anise flavor to most any dish. Greeks will use ouzo in many recipes from seafood marinades to cookies. Others believe that ouzo (or more specifically anise) has healing properties and will use ouzo to ease an upset stomach or relieve a headache. Parents of teething babies will often rub a bit of ouzo on their infants' gums to soothe their discomfort.
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