- HOME
- FOOD & DRINK
- What Is Greek Raki?
What Is Greek Raki?
Raki is an alcoholic drink made with distilled grapes and anise, and popular in Greece and other Mediterranean countries, including Greece’s neighbour Turkey.
In Greece you’ll be offered different drinks at different stages of a meal. Ouzo is very much a pre-dinner drink, an aperitif, either neat or with water added. Metaxa is a kind of Greek brandy (though it technically isn’t a brandy) and always served after a meal though also in cocktails.
When to Drink Greek Raki
Greek raki, though, is very versatile. Some restaurants or tavernas will offer you a glass on the house when you sit down at your table. You can drink it during the meal, as it’s a good accompaniment to meze dishes (the Greek equivalent of the Spanish tapas), and it also works well with oily fish dishes.
Finally, it’s the perfect after-dinner drink too, and those restaurants which don’t bring you a pre-dinner raki will probably bring you a raki after your meal. Our favourite restaurants do both! Raki is especially popular on Crete.
How to Drink Greek Raki
As with ouzo, you can either drink raki neat or add some water to it to water it down. Also as with ouzo, this turns the spirit milky. Those who like neat spirits would throw their hands up in horror at the thought of watering any spirit down, including raki, but others like the taste of raki or ouzo but simply don’t care for the strong alcoholic content of the neat spirit, and they water it down so that they can enjoy it. You can also simply pop an ice cube or two into your glass. Whatever works for you.
What Does Raki Mean?
The name raki is derived from arak, which is an Arabic word for something that has been distilled. Both raki and arak are a mix of distilled grapes and aniseed. The word arak is generally used in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, while raki is used in Greece, Turkey, and other Balkan countries, and also in Kazakhstan for some reason. In fact raki is the national drink of Turkey. Greece doesn’t have an official national drink but its unofficial one is ouzo, which is like a more sophisticated version of raki.
What is Greek Raki?
Raki is made from grapes not used in wine-making, that are double-distilled and then blended with anise. Raki tends to have less of an anise taste than ouzo, but like any drink the quality can be very variable. We’ve had rakis that are so rough that they make your eyes water and we’ve been unable to finish them. But we’ve also had rakis that are super-smooth and make the perfect ending to a meal.
Our Pick of the Guides to Greece
The History of Raki
Raki has been made for centuries but a popular belief is that it was first made by monks on Mount Athos in the 14th century. We all know that monks like making alcoholic drinks – they make wine in Germany, beer in Belgium, chartreuse in France, and many other drinks in many other places. In truth, though, people have probably made a raki-like drink with grapes left over from wine-making for as long as wine has been made – which is for several thousand years.
For a long time it was a drink that people made at home, and because everyone made their own raki nobody bothered to make it commercially. That changed sometime in the late 20th century when not everyone had their own grapevines any more, and an increasing number of holidaymakers wanted to buy raki to take home.
Raki or Tsipouro?
In Greece you’ll also find a drink called tsipouro. In some places they are one and the same, and tsipouro is simply the local version of raki. In other places tsipouro is a slightly different drink, as you can get versions with or without anise added, but it’s usually hard for the average visitor to tell the two apart. To complicate matters, in some places there’s also a drink called tsikoudia. This too is a variation on the raki theme.
Rakomelo
Rakomelo is yet another drink but this one is made from mixing raki with honey (meli) to produce a drink that is sweeter than raki and not usually quite as strong. This is an after-dinner drink and you can read all about it on our page about Making Rakomelo on Crete.
Other Greek Food and Drink Pages
Dolmades
Greece Travel Secrets explains the long history of the Greek dish of dolmades, or stuffed vine leaves, which goes back to ancient Greece, and provides a recipe.
Greek Feta Cheese
Greek feta cheese is the most popular cheese in Greece, usually made from sheep’s milk, with a soft texture and salty taste and used to top off a Greek salad.
History of Tzatziki and a Recipe
Greece Travel Secrets tells the history of the classic Greek dish tzatziki, with a recipe for making your own yogurt and cucumber dip.
Making Rakomelo on Crete
Greece Travel Secrets visits Crete and learns about making rakomelo from Jorgos Kourmoulis in Agouseliana.
Ten Best Dishes in Greece
Greece Travel Secrets lists the ten best dishes to try in Greece, especially if it’s your first visit, and also discover the best places to find them.
Corfu Olives
Corfu olives are an important part of this Greek island's economy, with an estimated 3-4 million trees producing olive oil of exceptional quality.
Stilianou Winery near Knossos
The Stilianou Winery near Knossos on Crete uses only Cretan grape varieties, with every bottle numbered, and aims for quality rather than quantity.
Athens Eaters Guide
Athens, an Eater's Guide to the City, is published by Culinary Backstreets, who do walking food tours in Athens and the book recommends the best places to eat.
Corfu’s Special Cuisine
Corfu’s special cuisine includes dishes like sofrito and pastitsade and the chance to try ginger beer and kumquats.
Athens Culinary Tours
Athens culinary tours are among the food walking tours offered by an unusual company, Culinary Backstreets.
Corfu Food and Drink
Information for travelers on Corfu Food and Drink including restaurants and tavernas, Corfiot specialties, desserts, wine and other Greek drinks like ouzo.
Corfu Beer Festival
The First Corfu Beer Festival took place in Arillas in North West Corfu and celebrated the beer of Bavaria and of Corfu, in the Ionian islands of Greece.
Athens Dining Guide
This Athens dining guide doesn't list restaurants but gives practical advice on types of eating places, tipping, hotel breakfasts and picnics.
Greek Food and Drink
Greek food and drink is a highlight of any visit and Greece Travel Secrets brings you info about food and drink from all over Greece, from Athens to Zakynthos.
Crete Olive Oil Tour
For a Crete olive oil tour Greece Travel Secrets visits Biolea, one of the few olive oil factories on Crete that you can visit.
Athens Food Tours
Athens Food Tours are being introduced by new company The Greek Fork, and will include tours of the Central Market, and the best street food.
Zacharioudakis Winery
Greece Travel Secrets visits the Zacharioudakis Winery near Ancient Gortina in southern Crete, and does a vineyard tour arranged by our guide from Go Crete.
Santorini Wineries
Visiting Santorini wineries is a popular activity on this Greek island in the Cyclades, whose volcanic soil provides a distinctive terroir.
Where to Eat in Athens and Piraeus
If you're wondering where to eat in Athens and Piraeus we have a few suggestions including some favorites around the Acropolis, Omonia Square, and Syntagma.
Tipping in Greece
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to tipping in Greece from two Greece travel experts, including when to tip, what to tip and when not to tip.
Goules Taverna Crete
The Goules Taverna in Goulediana, south of Rethymnon, has been called one of the best tavernas on Crete and Greece Travel Secrets recently visited them.
Greek Alcoholic Drinks
Greek alcoholic drinks include distinctly Greek drinks such as ouzo, Metaxa, retsina, raki, tsikoudia and tsipouro, but also Greek wines and Greek beers.
How to Make Petimezi
How to make Petimezi, the sweet Cretan syrup made from wine must, is explained to Greece Travel Secrets.
What Is Metaxa?
What is Metaxa? Metaxa is an amber Greek spirit combining brandy made by distilling wine, sweet wine from Samos and a secret recipe of Mediterranean botanicals.
Greek Grape Varieties
The Greece Travel Secrets guide to Greek grape varieties to help you know which wines to choose when dining in restaurants or buying wine in Greece.
Latest Posts
-
The Lesser-Known Traditions of Greek Easter
Step off the beaten path this spring and discover the enchanting — and often surprising — Easter traditions found across Greece. -
Easter in the Mystical Castle of Monemvasia
In the castle town of Monemvasia, with its dramatic medieval backdrop and sea views, Easter is a deeply spiritual and atmospheric experience. -
Sifnos: Greece’s Hidden Culinary Star on the Rise
Sifnos, a Cycladic island, is gaining fame for its rich culinary heritage, especially the beloved melopita honey-cheese tart. -
Easter in Leonidio: A Tapestry of Light, Culture and Cliffs
In Leonidio, Easter comes alive with handmade hot air balloons in the sky and lanterns made from bitter oranges in the streets. -
April 9 Strike in Greece to Impact Public Transport, Ferries and Air Travel
Transportation and travel across Greece will face disruptions on Wednesday, April 9, as public transport, ferry and aviation workers join a nationwide strike called by Greek labor unions. -
Ancient Theater of Lefkada Brought Fully to Light Following Systematic Excavation
The Greek Culture Ministry has announced that the first ancient theater ever identified in the Ionian Islands has recently been brought fully to light on Lefkada, revealing an impressive monument that… -
Seven Greek Traditions Recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage
From traditional barrel-making to age-old folk dances, seven new entries on Greece’s National Inventory preserve the country’s living heritage for future generations. -
Greek Air Traffic Controllers to Hold 24-hour Strike, Disrupting Flights on April 9
The Hellenic Air Traffic Controllers Union have announced a 24-hour strike for Wednesday, April 9, in response to the protest called by the Civil Servants’ Confederation (ADEDY). The strike is being h… -
Ten Best Budget Hotels on Santorini
Greece Travel Secrets picks the ten best budget hotels on Santorini, some with caldera views, some near beaches and some close to the heart of Fira. -
No Ferries in Greece on April 9 as Seamen Join Nationwide Strike
The Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO) has announced its participation in the 24-hour strike called by the General Confederation of Greek Labor (GSEE) on Wednesday, April 9. The strike, which will…
Why not sign up for our Greece Travel Secrets newsletter? Each week you'll get emailed our regular Greece Travel Secrets Magazine for news, information, and inspiration for planning your travels in Greece.
As a welcome gift you'll also get a free e-book, Heaven on Earth. This contains 19 of Mike's favourite stories that he's written about travelling in Greece for newspapers and magazines over the years.
You'll find it over at Substack. Check out one of the Archive issues to find the Subscribe button.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases, but at no cost to you.
BUY A JOURNAL TO RECORD YOUR OWN GREECE TRAVEL SECRETS!
LEARN A LITTLE GREEK BEFORE YOU GO!
FOLLOW OUR GREECE VIDEOS
ON YOUTUBE
No words or images to be used without prior permission.
We do not sell personal information: see our Privacy Policy.
California Consumer Privacy Act - CCPA: Sale Of Personal Information
Greece Travel Secrets does not sell any information it gathers for any reason. It has not collected or sold any personal information in the last twelve months or ever in the past.
This website was built using Site Build It!
