Castro
The “TENTOURA CASTRO – G.P HAHALIS” distillery is a 100% Greek Company and one of the best known and most traditional in the Patras region. The family business traces its roots to the “fragrant” island of Chios in the 19th century, which is renowned throughout the world for its exclusive production of mastic.Grandfather Georgios Hahalis who lived at Agios Georgios Sikousis, one of the fortified villages on the island of Chios, was knowledgeable in all the distillation secrets. His knowledge surrounding the art of preparing ouzo and other alcoholic drinks has been handed down to the subsequent generations in the family, which has to this day faithfully adhered to the traditional recipes.
The business relocated to the foothills of Patras Castle in 1939.When Panagiotis Hahalis (2nd generation) relocated the business from Chios to Patras, his inventory included the key prerequisites for laying down the foundations of a successful business: commitment to quality, respect for the consumer, knowledge of extraction – distillation, a keen ability in selecting the raw materials ...and of course the family’s secret recipes.
Production has relocated since 1993 to a modern processing plant in the Romanos region, which is renowned for its excellent water quality and boasts suitable environmental conditions for properly ageing and storing extracts and distillates in oak barrels and stainless steel tanks.
In 2012, the research Project entitled “Use of organic active essential oils in the production of alcoholic drinks and confectionery products with potential health benefits”, commenced in cooperation with the Democritus University of Thrace. The aim of the Project 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. The research Project was completed with positive scientific results. Specifically, laboratory (in vitro) studies undertaken by the Democritus University of Thrace in cooperation with the distillery have proven the antioxidant and anticancer properties in the natural extracts and essential oils of cinnamon and anise, as well as the anticancer properties of the natural extracts and essential oils in Chios mastic, as these are contained in specific products of the company.
Today the distillery continues to combine the traditional method for producing alcoholic drinks (extraction – distillation) with the latest technology in their standardisation.
