Tentoura Castro & Democritus University of Thrace

Product of research: Tentoura Liqueur with Mastiha (en)

The TENTOURA CASTRO – G.P.HAHALIS distillery, in cooperation with the Laboratory of Organic Biological Chemistry and Chemistry of Natural Products of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the Democritus University of Thrace, organized a public event of great success in the Chamber of Achaia, Patras, Greece (January 12, 2015).

The purpose of this event was to present the scientific results of the research project entitled “Use of organic active essential oils in the production of alcoholic drinks and confectionery products with potential health benefits”.

The aim of this research project, which is conducted under the use of a European Union’s NSRF operational programme for development, is to produce new or improved alcoholic drinks and sweets that contain natural ingredients with potential health benefits, by utilising the antimicrobial and antioxidant agents in essential oils and their extracts (“Competitiveness and Entrepreneurship” Operational Programme, “Aid for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises” Action, “Support for New Enterprises on Research and Technological Development Activities” Act – NSRF 2007-2013).

The essential oils and extracts that were analysed were those of anise (as contained in ouzo and tsipouro spirits), cinnamon and Chios mastic (as contained in the Tentoura Castro liqueur), as well as those of the new product that was presented in this day’s event, Tentoura Castro with mastic (“mastiha”) liqueur, in which the aroma and flavour of Chios mastic is more discernible in relation to the classic Tentoura Castro liqueur.

The results of this research project, that were presented for the first time in the international scientific “Annual Conference and Exhibition on Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Natural Health Products and Dietary Supplements” (October 14-17, 2014, Istanbul, Turkey), demonstrated that the abovementioned essential oils and extracts have shown to have antioxidant and anticancer activity.

The Head of the Region of Western Greece, Apostolos Katsifaras, the President of the Social Organisation of the Municipality of Patras, cardiologist Theodoros Toulgarides, the Director of the Chemical Agency of Peloponnese, Western Greece and Ionian islands, Spyridon Varvaressos, the former Director of the Chemical Agency of Patras, Dimitrios Vlachos and the Professor in the Department of Biology of the University of Patras, Georgios Dimitriades   opened the event with a welcome address to the public.

Our distillery’s scientific associate Dr. Panagiotis Panas, the production manager, chemical engineer Panagiotis Hahalis, the Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics of the Democritus University of Thrace, Ioannis Kourkoutas and the PhD candidate Eleni Fitsiou who substituted for the Associate Professor of the same Department of the Democritus University of Thrace, Aglaia Pappa, presented the research project and its scientific results.

The event was coordinated by the Director of the SEV - Hellenic Federation of Enterprises of Peloponnese and Western Greece, Nikolaos Kotsonis, who also quoted the message of the Director of the SEV - Hellenic Federation of Enterprises, Georgios Kepenos.