goinggreek.info
The Agora => Greek News => Greek History & Culture => Topic started by: Maik on Tuesday, 06 September, 2016 @ 14:17:03
-
Literature scholars believe the name ouzo to come from the ancient Greek verb “to smell,” or “ozo.” Romantics prefer to think it comes from the phrase “Ou zo,” or “Without this I can’t live.” Others see its roots in the Turkish word for grape, “uzum,” and others say it can be traced back to a story about a Turkish consulate doctor in Thessaly in the 18th century who tasted the local raki and cried out, “But this is uso di Marsiglia!” The phrase, meaning “for use in Marseilles,” was at the time stamped on crates of silk worm cocoons exported from Thessaly to major merchants in the French port, and had become synonymous with any product of excellent quality.
All this fascinating information and more is available on the website, tsou.gr, an online temple to ouzo.
http://www.ekathimerini.com/211701/article/ekathimerini/life/banging-the-drum-for-ouzo
Ouzo website at http://www.tsou.gr/en/
-
Great article and even better site. The name of the guy running it is Bekris - which remarkably means "boozer" in Greek. (not sure if there is a difference of spelling or the stress).
Fantastic find Maik!!! :btu: :btu: :btu:
Tony
-
Actually, his name is Βεκρής, which is Vekris, rather than Bekris (Μπεκρής), the latter indeed meaning a hard drinker. Nice near coincidence, though...!! :lol:
-
Thanks Bryan,
I thought you'd spot if there was something awry! I did a very quick scan over the Greek version of the site and couldn't see the guy's name. So I went by the transliteration in the English article in Το Βήμα. Shame it seemed so right!
Τα λέμε!
Tony