History of Greek Food

Cinnamon Beverage (Canelada)

Summer time and defintely time for a flavorful and refreshing nonalcoholic drink!

Canelada, a cinnamon beverage (canela = cinnamon in Greek), is drunk in Crete and Aegean islands and served with lots of ice.

  cinnamomum_verum_luc_viatour

4 l. water

8-9 cinnamon sticks

1 k. sugar

In a large sauce pan combine sugar, water and cinnamon sticks. Cook until thickened, approximately 20 minutes. Discard the cinnamon and let the syrup cool before putting it in bottles.

For each serving combine cinnamon syrup with cold water. Add ice and serve.

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8 thoughts on “Cinnamon Beverage (Canelada)

  1. Pingback: History of Greek Food » Refreshments 1. LEMONADE

  2. admin

    The sentence should be like this: “During Ottoman occupation the famous sherbeti ( from turk. şerbet from arabic shabah) became popular in Greece too. The most delicate serbetia were made with flowers and often chilled with snow. In the late 16th century the şerbet entered in Italian cuisine, under the name of sorbetto. ”

    For some reason that I don’t understant it cannot be put in the comment.

  3. admin

    Hi all, I am back in Greece, after spending two wonderful weeks in Istanbul.
    Laurie, in the beginning, fruit or spice beverages were not only made for those wanted to satisfy their desire for refreshing drinks but were also regarded as medicines or a way for fruit preservation. Byzantine physicians mention the julapi ( < julepum, lat. julapium < arab. Julab < persian gul ab = rose water) and describe it as water or fruit – pulp sweetened with cane sugar. A julapi made with currants and chinese dates (Jujube, Ziziphus, jujuba) was used against fever. A drink made with honey and roses was very popular in Byzantium… and this one was made for pleasure.
    During Ottoman occupation the famous sherbeti <turk. şerbet < arabic shabah, became popular in Greece too. The most delicate serbetia were made with flowers and often chilled with snow. In the late 16th century the şerbet entered in Italian cuisine, under the name of sorbetto.

    Ioanna, in fact canelada is more refreshing that vissinada.
    Maria, until the 70ies it was popular also in Chania.

  4. maria v

    I’ve had this at a friend’s house – she was from herakleion and she told me they drink this regularly there – i must make it!

  5. FoodJunkie

    I love this! It is very refreshing, especially after walking around a remot Greek village in the middle of the afternoon and a grandma gives you some to quench your thirst. Like vissinada…

    BTW the Greek Goverment rejected my URL FoodJunkie due to ‘Public order/ moral considerations’, although they gave me the ok first. So please change back to my blog URL thanks!

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