Just trying these 5 traditional Turkish drinks is a cultural journey in and of itself. All of them are native to Turkey and/or the Ottoman Empire and they provide an insight into modern Turkish culture as well as a journey into its past. Not to mention, they all are full of their own vibrant, unique flavors that will guarantee some sort of reaction – be it either a smile of pleasant fulfillment or a cringe of slight discomfort.
RAKI: The King of Turkish drinks
Raki is the answer… I don’t remember the question
A noted favorite of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk (who, be warned, died early do to problems associated with heavy drinking), this white, cloudy substance looks the result of some sort of chemistry experiment gone bad. It is Turkey’s national drink and is affectionately, and rightfully, referred to as “the milk of the strong”. Taken by itself is nothing short of a dragon breathing fire straight down your throat. However, lucky for you, Raki is traditionally mixed with water and ice in a tall, collins-like glass. Raki itself is a hard, strong, unsweetened alcoholic beverage produced by twice distilling grape pomace and flavoring it with aniseed. It is traditionally consumed alongside a mezze (appetizers) near dinnertime. Proceed with caution: Raki goes down smoother and smoother with each passing glass!
SALEP
A little sip of paradise
A traditional beverage that predates coffee and tea, Salep is a drink that is made with salep flour – a flour made from grinding the dried tubers of orchid. The flour, hot milk and cinnamon are combined to create a sweet, rich, savory, almost custard-like beverage. It was one of the most famous traditional turkish drinks in the Ottoman Empire and made its way westward in the 17th and 18th centuries. And, as fortune would have it, it is one of those rare products that isn’t just delicious, but also nutritious. In addition to treating sore throats, it has historically been used as a remedy for chronic diarrhea, digesting problems and gum disease.
TEA
I mean, at least 5 times a day
Turkish tea is by and far one of the most popular drinks in the country. Pronounced “chai” in Turkish, please don’t expect to receive anything similar to the chai tea you are probably thinking of – or at least the chai that I thought of upon first hearing the name. This is black tea that comes served in small, tulip-shaped glasses. You will find it challenging to hold the glass without burning your fingers, it is as if your finger tips were walking a tight-rope, but the ultimate flavor is well worth the deft manoeuvring of the glass to your mouth. The tea can be served lighter or darker depending on preferences because it is made by pouring very strong tea into a glass, and then cutting it with water to the desired strength. A few of you (you’re tourists for the most part, so its bound to happen) will choose apple tea over traditional chai. Just be aware that apple tea was introduced a few years ago for children and tourists. So you will be judged. Just sayin’..
TURKISH COFFEE
The father of all Turkish Drinks
For all the details you could ever crave regarding Turkish coffee, please refer to this recent post. Here is the shorter version: Turkish coffee was a trademark beverage of the Ottoman Empire and, in particular, palace cuisine. Each Sultan had his own personal coffeemaker (a person, not a machine, they weren’t that advanced) who was the most trusted member of the Sultan’s staff – I thought that was interesting and worth sharing with you. Turkish coffee is special not for the beans themselves, but for how it is prepared. The fine grinds are brought to a boil 3 separate times and then poured, little bit by little bit, into each of the glasses. Turkish coffee is an essential part of social life in Istanbul and the rest of the country – the way that it is served (hot and in tiny little cups) forces you to sit down, relax and, hopefully, engage in conversation.
Read our special TURKISH COFFEE post to get an extensive education on this delicious topic.
EFES (Or Bomonti)
If you regularly drink beer, then you won’t even have a choice
I don’t know whether or not it is official, but Efes is most definitely the national beer of Turkey and one of the most popular Turkish drinks. It is in every cafe, every restaurant, every bar, every club, every disco, every, well, you get the point. And quite often it is the only option around. Named after the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, the beer has won its fair share of international accolades – though all of the awards are from the 70’s. I don’t know why. In English the beer is called Efes Pilsner. For me, to be honest, beer is beer. So I recommend trying this one just because it is special to Turkey. If you want more details than that, maybe you will appreciate the description given by this critic: “tangy malt and hops aroma, rich malt in the mouth, and a bitter-sweet finish that becomes dry and hoppy”. Malty and hoppy. Whatever that means. I hope you’re into it!