Sahlep: Tasty Winter Drink from Turkey

The Turkish tea and the coffee (Kahve) are very popular drinks in this beautiful country, but come winter, another drink joins the popular list. In fact, it is so popular in the winter months that this drink can be bought at every street seller and at every cafe in the country. Made from the tubers of an orchid, milk, water, vanilla, rose water, cinnamon and pistachio nuts, this thick drink called Sahlep is like the perfect drink you can have on a cold day. The only thing to remember is not to drink it too fast (even if you like the drink a lot) as else you might burn your throat and tongue.

 
Personally, I indulged in them whenever the cold wind picked up speed or the temperatures plummeted. Not only does this drink warm you instantly, it also feels so good to drink and comforts the throat too. The recipe of this drink is believed to have been created during the reign of the Ottoman kings, but its use today is spread across Turkey, Greece, Central Asia and even Europe, which imports this ready to make drink from Turkey.  The locals do not use the ready to make powder to make this drink, but rather prepare it in the painstakingly original way with the raw materials. And, the end result is an of the world taste.


If you visit Turkey during the winter months, do not miss to try out this drink especially on a cold and grey day. And if you like it, you can buy a box of Sahlep as a souvenir for your friends and family back home. I am going to indulge in this drink a bit more while I am traveling through Turkey.