Malotira (Sideritis syriaca), also known as Cretan Mountain tea is a herbaceous plant or shrub, 10-50cm long, which is met at ranges over 900m in West Crete (over 900m). The species is endemic to Crete and the name syriaca (instead of cretica) probably comes from a confusion of the botanist who gave the name.
Its leaves are small and fluffy, while on the summer it has tiny yellow flowers. The population of malotira has unfortunately fallen dramatically, mainly because of overgrazing and excessive collection. Thus, the amazing honey produced from flowers of malotira till the 80s, is no longer produced anywhere.
