TSIKOUDIA

photography

Tsikoudia (τσικουδιά) – also commonly raki (ρακή) in the eastern part of Crete – is a fragrant, grape-based pomace brandy of Cretan origin.  It is often home-produced by individuals in villages throughout Crete, and so the alcohol content varies by producer.

Typically each Cretan village has one or two residents who are licensed to distill, and tsikoudia is produced continuously for two or three weeks in late October and early November.  Tsikoudia is served cold from a bottle kept in a freezer and commonly offered as a complimentary after dinner digestif in most tavernas in Crete.

On this page I’m sharing images from a variety of wonderful places in Crete where we were served homemade tsikoudia