Two varieties of raki

Rakí is the Cretan variant of the grape marc spirit known in the rest of Greece as Tsipouro. Rakí is distilled from the remains of the mash used in winemaking, is clear and contains between 30 and 40 percent alcohol by volume. Rakí is drunk undiluted, it is the inevitable drink in Crete, offered as a greeting, farewell and after dinner. Unlike Turkish rakı, however, Cretan rakí does not contain anise and also differs from it in the basic ingredients.

Turkish rakı [raˈkɯ] is an aniseed distilled from grapes or raisins. The fruit is harvested when ripe, dried, fermented and distilled. Anise is then added and distilled one more time. The clear liquor has an alcohol content of 40 to 50 percent by volume, and the taste is licorice-like.