towardia Where things come from.
🌐 en

🥃 Ouzo

Grape product ✔ Checked: 10.2026 · sources: 8

A Greek aniseed spirit, often based on grape alcohol.

Ouzo is a Greek aniseed spirit. It is drunk in Greece and Cyprus. Anise gives the main aroma, and other spices are sometimes added. The base is often grape spirit, but not always.

The spirit is steeped or distilled with the spices, then diluted with water to the right strength. If water or ice is added to ouzo, it turns cloudy and milky white. This is normal: anise oils do not dissolve well in water.

Ouzo is counted among grape products because the base is often made from grapes. In spirit it is close to arak, rakı and tsipouro. Rakı is the Turkish aniseed spirit, arak is common in the Middle East, and tsipouro is a Greek grape spirit, with or without anise. Ouzo is closely tied to Greek and Cypriot wine culture as part of local food and company at the table. It is usually sipped slowly with small dishes.

kind of🥃grape productsmade in🗺️Greek winemade in🗺️Cypriot winesimilar🥃Araksimilar🥃Rakısimilar🥃Tsipouro🥃towardia.com
Main links. Click a topic to open it.
Part of
🥃 Grape products
Where it is made
🗺️ Greek wine, 🗺️ Cypriot wine
Similar and different
🥃 Arak, 🥃 Rakı, 🥃 Tsipouro

Frequently asked questions

What is ouzo?

It is a Greek aniseed spirit, often made from a grape-spirit base.

Why does ouzo turn cloudy with water?

Anise oils do not dissolve well in water, so the drink turns milky white.

How is ouzo different from rakı?

Rakı is Turkish and ouzo is Greek; both are aniseed spirits, but they are made in different countries under their own rules.

Similar

🥃 Moustalevria · 🥃 Churchkhela · 🥃 Arak · 🥃 Rakı · 🥃 Pomace brandy · 🥃 Grape juice

⚠️ Wine contains alcohol: adults only, drink in moderation. Wine usually contains sulphites; egg white or milk proteins are sometimes used for fining — important for allergies and for vegans.

Sources

All topics