A golden-yellow herbal tea made from the flowering shoots of the Sideritis plant, which grows on the high slopes of Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Known by different names depending on the region.
Mountain tea is an herbal tea made from the flowering shoots of plants of the genus Sideritis, part of the mint family. It grows on the high, rocky slopes of Anatolia and the Mediterranean basin; it is also known by regional names such as "yayla tea" and "shepherd's tea."
When its dried shoots are steeped or boiled, they yield a yellowish-golden, mildly and softly aromatic tea; thanks to its non-sharp taste, it doesn't become overly bitter even with long steeping.
Unsweetened brewed mountain tea is practically calorie-free and contains no notable macronutrients; therefore, no numerical nutrition table is given. Its aroma is determined by the plant's essential oils and botanical compounds.
Mountain tea is a yayla tea traditionally consumed frequently in Anatolia and the Mediterranean; research into its compounds continues, but these findings have not translated into a definitive health recommendation.
This information is general; mountain tea is an herbal tea, not a substitute for medical treatment.
Quality mountain tea is a product whose shoots are whole, yellowish-green in color, slightly downy, and that preserves its characteristic soft scent.
Dried mountain tea shoots can be kept in a sealed jar, in a cool place away from light, for about 1 year; moisture and light weaken the aroma.
Mountain tea is consumed almost entirely as a hot beverage; while its shoots can be steeped, they can also be boiled for a few minutes to get a stronger tea.
A pinch of dried shoots is added to a glass of boiling water and steeped for 5–8 minutes; for a stronger taste, the shoots can be boiled with water for 3–4 minutes. Honey and lemon can be added if desired.
Yes; unlike sage tea, mountain tea shoots can also be prepared by boiling them in water for a few minutes, which gives a darker tea.
Hot mountain tea, honey-lemon mountain tea, and winter herbal tea blends are the most common uses of mountain tea.
No; mountain tea is made from Sideritis species, while sage tea is made from Salvia officinalis. Both are herbal teas but from different plants.
It grows naturally on the high, rocky, sunny slopes of Anatolia and the Mediterranean basin; this is why it is also known as "yayla tea."
No; mountain tea is an herbal tea and is naturally caffeine-free, so it can also be consumed in the evening.
Natural plant pigments in the shoots pass into the water when steeped, giving the tea its characteristic yellowish-golden color.
Yes; depending on the region it is known by names such as "yayla tea" and "shepherd's tea," all referring to tea made from Sideritis species.
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