The «mountain tea» comes from the plant Sideritis spp or otherwise siderite of Dioskouridis, which is said to have got its name from the Greek word «iron» thanks to the healing properties of the plant against wounds caused by iron weapons. In Crete is known as «malotira», named by the prevailing version of the Italian words «male» (illness) and «tirare» (draw), because in Venetian Crete was considered a cure for colds and respiratory diseases .