Drinks (non-alcoholic)

Tea (çay or chai)

Tea is overwhelmingly the most popular drink in Turkey. Sometimes it will feel like it is available anywhere that a chair exists for you to sit down. It is served in a tulip glass on a saucer with a small spoon and sugar on the side. It’s normal to have this before, during, and after any meal, when you stop for a short rest in a cafe, and with a small snack or dessert. If you are in a shop waiting for something and the worker offers you a tea, it is polite to accept it even if you don’t drink any.

Normal coffee (kah-VE)

The Turks call American-style coffee “filtre kahve”. Any of the normal, cafe-style coffees you are used to will have familiar names in Turkish cafes and restaurants.

Turkish coffee (Türk kahvesi)

Türk kahvesi is very thick and served with water on the side. When you are finished, it’s common for someone you are with or a paid fortune teller to read the coffee grounds in the bottom of your cup. If the gossip is particularly good that night, a fortune telling could go on for an hour or more. Our friend Selda does this for fun. She is a great person to ask for a fortune.

Ayran

A sour, yogurt-based drink. You can find this pretty much everywhere. It’s normal to drink with something a little oily. Kebab, döner, etc.

Salep

Salep is a bit of a weird one to describe. It is a hot drink kind of in the same family as a hot chocolate. It is similar in taste to a rice pudding though. It’s uniquely Turkish and definitely a recommendation while you are in the area.

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