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| Hot, hearty & Delicious Sahlep served at Koftecisi Cafe, near Istanbul's iconic Spice Market
Photo: Phyllis Shess, Pillar to Post, January, 2015
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SO IT ISN’T COFFEE--Sahlep or Salep isn’t coffee or
is it tea, but on a cold day after putting on ten miles walking around
Istanbul’s Spice Market, the hot drink, a winter favorite in Greece, Lebanon
and Turkey, was just the ticket.
Sahlep
(I’m going with the spelling from the outdoor café where we first tasted this
delicious concoction) is made from crushed tubers of wild orchids that are
found all over Turkey. The drink is
non-alcoholic, which falls in line with the teachings of Islam.
Served
from a brass samovar, we tasted Sahlep on both sides of the Bosporus adding a
bit of intercontinental research to our trip.
If not smothered in cinnamon or other like spice for flavoring my
Istanbul Sahleps had a hint of rice pudding and tapioca flavoring.
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| Photo (top) was taken at the outside small table, lower left corner of Beceren Koftecisi cafe, Istanbul |
I’m told
Sahlep is ladened with glucomannan, which reportedly cures everything except
war, especially coughs. Our Sahlepper
(why doesn’t that sound right?) said the drink stops diarrhea adds zip to the
heart and puts a buzz in your soul.
Having
returned home I’ve discovered online libraries filled with Salep (Internet
spelling) recipes and brands of instant good stuff.
Online, I
ordered four packettes of instant Salep powder to see if I could recreate the
magic of 25 degree weather in 70 degree San Diego. Somehow it wasn’t quite the same. But, if you close your eyes and play the
right music the aura of Sahlep or Salep can be recreated.
Home-made
For
six people, mix 2 teaspoons of sahlep flour with 2,5 teaspoons of sugar. Slowly
add 3.5 glasses of cold milk, and stir. Finally boil the mixture while stirring
on low fire for 10 to 15 minutes. Serve hot in a cup dusting with grinded
cinnamon, nutmeg or ginger on top.
Other Sahlep related images from the web:
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| Image by Yigal Schleifer |
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| Proving Sahlep isn't just an outdoor adventure |
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| Sahlep vendor, Istanbul, circa 1890s |
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| Sahlep vendor near the Blue Mosque |
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| Classic tourist image at a Sahlep counter in Istanbul |
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