Cretan Raki with Pomegranate

Cretan raki with pomegranate created by the Pitarokoilis family blends traditional tsikoudia with natural pomegranate extract for a fruity aromatic flavor. Tsikoudia also called raki in the eastern part of Crete is a fragrant grape based pomace brandy of Cretan origin containing from forty percent to sixty five percent alcohol by volume. It is produced by distilling the pomace which includes the grape pieces seeds and stems that remain after the winemaking process. The pomace is kept sealed for about six weeks and then the fermented mixture is distilled. The name raki also gives the word rakizio describing the traditional distillation gatherings among family friends and neighbors. Cretan raki with pomegranate offers a naturally sweet refreshing taste that combines the clarity of tsikoudia with the bright fruity notes of fresh pomegranate. The Pitarokoilis family bottles raki in round glass bottles of two hundred milliliters and in small uniquely shaped bottles of fifty milliliters.