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The history of ouzo is somewhat murky, but some claim it may date back in one form or another to ancient times. Its precursor is raki, a drink distilled throughout the Byzantine and later Ottoman Empires, often in those days of quality approaching moonshine (similar liqueurs in Turkey and many Arab countries still go by that name).

Modern ouzo distillation largely took off in the 19th century following Greek independence, with much production centered on the island of Lesvos, which claims to be the originator of the drink and remains a major producer. In 1932, ouzo producers developed a method of distillation in copper stills, which is now considered the canonically proper method of production.

In modern Greece, ouzeri can be found in nearly all cities, towns, and villages. These cafe-like establishments serve ouzo with mezethes -- appetizers such as octopus, salad, sardines, calamari, fried zucchiniZucchini ( US and Australian English) or Courgette ( New Zealand and British English), is the name of a vegetable. Its Latin name is Cucurbita pepo''. Courgette comes from the French name of the vegetable, with the same spelling. It is a diminutive of cou, and clamA clam is any of a number of edible marine bivalve mollusks living in sand or mud on the shores of oceans. Characteristics Clams can be hard-shelled or soft-shelled. The digestible portion of the clam consists of muscles, which allows it to open and closes, among others. It is traditionally slowly sipped (usually mixed with water or ice) together with mezethes shared with others over a period of several hours in the early evening.

In many areas, individuals or small-time local producers make tsipouroTsipouro is an alcoholic drink found in Greece and in particular in Thessaly, Epirus, Macedonia and on the island of Crete. Tsipouro is a strong distilled spirit containing approximately 37 per cent alcohol per volume and is produced from the must-residue, which is essentially a home-made small- batchA Batch is a group of similar items produced, processed or gathered together and treated as a single unit. Batch is an adjective used to describe Batch production a method used to produce or process any product in groups that can be called batches, as opp variant of ouzo. The taste of tsipouro varies widely by producer, but many Greeks prefer their favorite local tsipouro to the more commonly-available brands of mass-produced ouzo. The traditional hospitality greeting for travellers visiting the monasteriesA monastery is the habitation of monks. Originally: a hermit's cell. Christian monasteries are also called abbey, priory, charterhouse, friary, and preceptory The habitation of nuns is also called a convent. The communal life of a monastery is called ceno at Mount AthosMount Athos is a mountain and a peninsula in Macedonia, northern Greece, called Ayio Oros or "Holy Mountain") in Modern Greek, or Ἅ Ὄ Hagion Oros in Classical Greek. It is home to 20 Eastern Orthodox monasteries and forms an autonomous state is a small glass of tsipouro and a loukoumi, a candy-like homemade treat.