Tsikoudia

Unlike many other Mediterranean pomace spirits, tsikoudia undergoes a single distillation process, preserving the original grape aroma and flavour.

In eastern Crete, it is colloquially known as raki (Greek: ρακή, romanized: rakí), a term borrowed from Turkish rakı and itself from Arabic arak (عرق), both meaning "distilled".

It is commonly offered as a complimentary digestif in Cretan restaurants, accompanied by fresh fruits, nuts, or sweets like loukoumades (honey-soaked doughnuts) or halva.

[7] Tsikoudia is part of a broader family of grape-based spirits in the Mediterranean, including tsipouro from mainland Greece, orujo from Spain, grappa from Italy, marc from France, Georgian: chacha from Georgia, and rakia from the Balkans.

However, its single distillation process and lack of added spices give tsikoudia a unique profile that distinguishes it from these spirits.