Turkish Coffee:

This delicious drink is prepared by boiling finely powdered roast coffee beans in a "cezve" (small pot). According to your taste, you can choose between: coffee is served as sade (without sugar), az sekerli (a little sugar), orta (medium sugar) and sekerli (sweet). It is served into a small cup, where the dregs settle. Rich in tradition and flavor, Turkish coffee remains a favorite today.

An interesting fact is, that through "fal" (reading the future from the coffee grounds left in the cup) a social activity much enjoyed by groups of women friends, as also the fact that most festive meals always end with a cup of Turkish coffee.

Turkish Tea:

Drinking Turkish tea has a very important place in daily life in Turkey. Turkish Tea (cay) is the most preferred drink of the Turks along with the traditional Turkish Coffee. In Turkey wherever you go, tea or coffee will be offered.. you will surely be offered a cup of tea whether after a meal, even in the restaurants. It is almost everywhere, every time, either during daytime or in the evening. Also drinking tea is such an essential part of an office day. When you visit Turkey, one of most common place you can see is the tea garden ( tea houses).

The Turks always drink their tea black cay (Turkish tea) is a form of black tea and is produced on the eastern Black Sea coast. The preparation is typical; 2 stacked kettles (caydanlik). After the water in the big kettle boils, some of the water is used to fill the smaller kettle on top and put in a few spoons of loose tea leaves, which produces a very strong but tastefully tea. Tea is drunk in small glasses, to enjoy it while it is still hot.

Raki:

Raki is, probably the most popular alcoholic drink amongst Turkish people. Raki is made from different fruits but raisins is the most important one. Its history goes back 300 years, and the art of distillation has started in the Arab world, which spread to neigboring countries. With the addition of aniseed, the Turkish Raki was a fact.

How to drink Raki:

Usually consumed with meze (selection of appetisers or small dishes), but especially popular with white cheese and melon. or even fish. Generally it is consumed mixed with cold water, but also ice cubes can be added. After the water has been added, the drink becomes whitish (also cold Lion's milk). Raki can also be consumed in seperate glasses (one glass of Raki and one with only water). A glass of cold water would suit a casual drinker.

Ayran:

Ayran is a mixture of water, yogurt and salt. The drink is so popular in Turkey, that international fast food companies, such as McDonalds have included it in their own standard menu in rural areas of Turkey, ayran is offered as a standard drink to welcome guests. Ayran is served cool, and is a common accompaniment to f.e doner, kebap or gozleme.

Sahlep:

Sahlep is a flour that is made from dried tubers of various plants like the Orchis mascula or orchids. The drink was very popular in the 17th and 18th century in England, the preparation however, required that the sahlep powder should be added to water untill it was thick enough to be sweetened and flavoured with orange flowers or rose waters and finally served. The popularity of sahlep in Turkey is very high, especially in the wintermonths it is a good way to get warm.

Salgam:

Salgam (turnip juice) is a popular beverage in Turkey. Its origin lies in Adana. Although the Turkish name is Salgam suyu (or shortened, Salgam) literally it means "turnip juice". The juice of yellow pickles, lightly salted, spiced and flavoured with aromatic celem (turnip) and fermented fish in barrels. Traditionally it is served cold in large glasses with long slices of pickled carrots, called dene. Hot or regular, it's a popular drink with the famous Adana Kebap.