The weather has certainly taken a turn for the hotter over the last few days and, once again, our thoughts turn to ways of keeping cool. Here at Fethiye Times we thought it was time to remind you about one of the best ways to stay cool and hydrated, drinking Ayran.
Ayran
Yogurt is an incredibly important part of Turkish culture and Ayran, described a few years ago by the country’s President, Recep Tayyıp Erdoğan, as Turkey’s national drink, is certainly the healthiest soft beverages, especially when compared with the chemical filled commercial alternatives.
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Available everywhere
Available in virtually every corner shop, restaurant, cafe and fast food joint in the Turkey, ayran may seem a rather unusual taste for those not used to it but served chilled it’s refreshing, nourishing and healthy, so it’s well worth developing a taste for it if you haven’t tried it already.
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Made with nothing more than strained (suzme) yogurt, chilled water and a pinch of salt, our favourite versions of ayran are homemade and the kind you can buy in some traditional restaurants, which is covered in a head of creamy foam and served in copper mugs.
Make it at home
To make ayran, blend 2 cups of plain yoghurt with 1 cup water with a pinch of salt, for about 20 seconds. You will see a nice thick foam and bubbles form at the top. Serve in water glasses with a few ice cubes in them. You may also add a few fresh mint leaves for a refreshing taste. – Ozlem’s Turkish Table
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A long and curious history
Some say that the yogurt based drink, ayran, has been made for thousands of years and was originally made by Göktürks (Celestial Turks) and certainly nomadic Turks, Yörük, have been making and drinking it for more than a millennium.
Whether or not it was made to use up slightly sour yogurt or just because it is delicious, is a matter of debate; however, during the hot summer months, this slightly salty drink is considered by most Turks as the best way to rehydrate.
There are reports saying that sales of ayran are declining but we really can’t understand why… We think it’s one of the best drinks around. It even has its own website!
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Think Ayran
Next time you’re feeling overheated and dehydrated think Ayran and give it a try!
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