On my recent trip to Turkey, I had the pleasure of sampling several of the must-try traditional drinks of this fascinating country. Two were well-known to me already, but the other two were delightful surprises!
Here are four must-try traditional drinks of Turkey: Şıra, Ayran, Kahve, & Çay.
Şıra is a fermented grape drink made from Turkey's abundant black grape production. Although the grapes are allowed to ferment as part of the process, this drink is non-alcoholic. It is traditionally served with Iskender Kebap but is a pleasant and refreshing fruit drink any time of the day.
I found it to be moderately sweet, but am told that other variations can be very sweet, especially when other flavorings are added. Traditionally, Şıra is a digestive; consumed just after a meal to aid in what naturally occurs in the body after eating.
Ayran was a delectable surprise and should be a Must-Try for you while in Turkey. A simple concoction of yogurt, salt, and water, this refreshing drink is most popular in the summer months across Central Asia.
Served chilled, or over ice, this curdled milk drink has an intriguing sour and tangy taste at first. While that may sound somewhat off-putting, I found my enjoyment increasing with every cold sip. I simply had not had anything else that compared to Ayran, so it took a bit of time to process what I was consuming.
It is a fine accompaniment to Kebap, Koftes, or other Turkish meat dishes, or served alone as a mid-day pick-me-up.
Turkish Coffee, or Kahve, is probably the best-known drink in this region of the world. Similar to Greek coffee, Kahve is quite strong and traditionally served in a small cup on a saucer.
Finely ground arabica beans are used to produce this potent beverage, with a thick sea of grounds left in the cup. Turks prepare Kahve by boiling the coffee in a Cezve, a long handled pot, then poured into individial servings.
Hot, frothy, and sweetened with sugar for many, Kahve probavly ranks number two in the most traditional drinks of Turkey.
If there is a champion of Turkish beverages, it has to be Turkish Tea, or Çay.
With Turks drinking the most tea per capita on the planet, you will find this scorching hot drink virtually anywhere you go.
Produced in a çaydanlık, two teapots stacked on top of each other, and served in ince belli, tulip-shaped glasses, Çay is as much art as it is refreshment.
Tea is served everywhere, and the one time I refused tea after a meal, the proprietor looked at me like I was absolutely crazy. "What?? No tea?" he exclaimed in English. So... I had tea.
If you travel to Turkey, you must try these four traditional Turkish drinks: Şıra, Ayran, Kahve, & Çay. They are both central to Turkey's history and traditional, modern day cultural treasures, as well.
Cheers!