Cyprus-Forum.com

[webbo]

Hi guys, I was introduced to Ouzo by my friend about 2 years ago and I love it - I drink it on its own, with ice, with lemonade, with soda and grenadine - get the idea??!?

Just wondering if you love it or hate it?

Cheers
Bubbles x

[phoenix]

I was introduced to it by an English friend whilst holidaying in Cyprus. (Odd on both levels really, because it's Greek not Cypriot).

I can't make my mind up about it.

On the one hand I love the taste of aniseed so a sip is fine .... but then it makes me seriously drunk after just a few more sips. So I hate it

Have you set up a "don't know" vote?. . . I'll check.

[phoenix]

Nope.

[Filitsa]

Ouzo novices! I've been drinking it all my life ... for medicinal purposes, of course. It tempers cold chills and fevers ... my father's remedy, God rest his soul. When we ran out, Metaxa was the next medicine of choice.

[Pubdog2]

mmm ploumari mmm me loves

[dinos]

I voted in favor of it. Any culinary recipes that use ouzo out there?

[Eliko]

Ouzo novices! I've been drinking it all my life ... for medicinal purposes, of course. It tempers cold chills and fevers ... my father's remedy, God rest his soul. When we ran out, Metaxa was the next medicine of choice.

I am inclined to agree with Filitsa on the medicinal properties of Ouzo, it certainly seems to be an excellent soother of sore throats etc, my dog is also very fond of a drop now and again, strangely enough I discovered his fondness for it when I dropped a glassful on the patio (subsequent to a little over-indulgence) which he immediately licked up.

The following half hour was quite hilarious as he proceeded to howl like a wolf and was the main instigator of a serious awakening of every dog within five miles of my mountain retreat at 3 am on a Sunday morning.

Quite a spectacle, what with myself lurching from tree to tree with my howling companion close at my heels causing me to stumble and fall on several occasions.

The Turkish equivalent of Ouzo, (Tekirdag. Rakisi) is also very palatable and the thought occurs to me that the two products could well be instrumental in alleviating tension between opposing factions since those who enjoy a tipple would at least have something to agree on.

On the other hand, over-indulgence could start off another dispute as to which is the superior of the two, perhaps we should scrub that then.

Strange how a man and his dog can reach an amicable understanding due to a good piss-up (I am no more important than my dog) yet mankind is incapable of achieving such a state of mind.

Good Morning folks, have a nice day.

[webbo]

I was introduced to it by an English friend whilst holidaying in Cyprus. (Odd on both levels really, because it's Greek not Cypriot).

I can't make my mind up about it.

On the one hand I love the taste of aniseed so a sip is fine .... but then it makes me seriously drunk after just a few more sips. So I hate it

Have you set up a "don't know" vote?. . . I'll check.

Sorry, thought I had added a 'not bothered/ never tried it' option but obviously not!!
Believe you can get Cypriot ouzo too these days - according to our vet who also loves it!!! Any does me.................. Raki too, but no to Pernod, that is way too strong and bitter?!?!? I dunno how?!

Eliko, love your response, have brightened up my day already. Cheers
Bubbles x

[Nikitas]

A sophisticated post at last!

Always loved it, since early childhood when it was tasted in food- there are many recipes that call for ouzo as a flavoring, cookies, cakes, main dishes like shrimp flambeed with ouzo.

Then as a teenager I learned never, but never, to overdo it because the hangover is very bad.

Later still, as a resident of Greece I learned that there are many varieties of ouzo. The bottled stuff is not all the same, some are smoother and go well with food, others are more aromatic and are best drunk as aperiitifs. Barbayiannis, Mini, Ouzo 12, are good with food. Sans Rival is the aromatic drink alone kind. And then come the draft ouzos! The choice there is based on locality- Lesbos (Lesbian Ouzo!), Tyrnavos, Chios, Macedonia, they are all different. Some turn white with water some dont. We have a draft ouzo shop near the house and I experiment.

As for dogs liking it, I recall that in drag hunting, when hounds follow an artifical scent dragged on the ground as opposed to a real fox, the mixture used in the drag contains aniseed, maybe dogs knew about it before us!

In conclusion and after much thought I gotta say I love the stuff.

[humanist]

I hate the stuf, unless it is mix with blue curacao with mint leaf for garnish, which then becomes a greek sailor in which case i love it