The Longevity Tea of Ikaria


Ikaria is a beautiful Greek island, and one of only five Blue Zones on the planet where people live the longest and healthiest lives. [1] About 1 in 3 Ikarians live into their 90s, and many go on to reach 100 years old still living independently.

Overall, Ikarians live about 10 years longer than Americans, with far less chronic illness. Studies show they have half the risk of heart disease, 20% lower rates of cancer, and one of the lowest rates of dementia worldwide. One study showed people over age 70 on Ikaria had only 1/5th the rate of dementia compared to elderly people in the United States. [1, 2]

Their fantastic health and vitality have many contributing factors, but one tradition they have all embraced over the years is their fondness for Greek mountain tea, a citrusy herbal tea that naturally contains no caffeine and is made from the stems, leaves, and flowers of several varieties of shrubby plants in the Sideritis genus. Greek mountain tea is one of the most cherished herbal teas on Ikaria, enjoyed alongside other traditional herbs such as sage, rosemary, oregano, and chamomile. Many Ikarians make herbal tea a daily ritual, often sipping two to three cups a day.

Mountain tea is full of antioxidants, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Studies suggest the herb can reduce inflammation, promote digestion, support cardiovascular health, and may even have properties that support healthy brain function. Given Ikaria’s extremely low rate of dementia, the neuroprotective benefits could be one of the most interesting areas of research surrounding this unique tea. 

Laboratory studies have suggested that compounds found in Sideritis may help reduce the buildup of amyloid-beta proteins, support healthy communication between brain cells, and promote overall brain function. 

In one of the largest human trials with Greek mountain tea so far, researchers recruited 155 healthy adults aged 50–70 into a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Each person took either 475 mg or 950 mg of a Sideritis scardica extract, 240 mg of Ginkgo biloba, or placebo once daily for 28 days.

At the end of the trial, people who took the 950 mg dosage of Greek mountain tea performed significantly better than those on placebo on a sustained attention test. Participants also had better picture recognition accuracy and reported significantly lower levels of anxiety. Brain imaging revealed that Greek mountain tea at both doses led to increased oxygenated blood flow and oxygen saturation in the prefrontal cortex (an area associated with attention, decision-making, and working memory) while performing mentally taxing tasks.

With more than 100 published scientific studies exploring Sideritis and growing interest from researchers around the world, there's still much to discover about this remarkable herb. 

Here's to many cozy cups of mountain tea ahead.