Ayran

Ayran is a cold, savory drink made from yogurt, water, and salt. It is enjoyed in many places, including Central Asia, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Sometimes people add herbs like mint to give it extra flavor, and some types of ayran are even fizzy because they are carbonated. In Turkey, ayran is considered a national drink, and many people love to drink it as a refreshing beverage.

Etymology

The word ayran comes from old Turkic languages. It is related to words meaning "to separate." An old book from the 11th century mentioned ayran, but it did not explain how to make it.

Preparation

Ayran is a cold drink usually served with grilled meat, bread, or rice, especially in the summer. It is made by mixing yogurt with cold or iced water. Sometimes, it might have a bit of fizz and mint added for flavor.

Traditionally, some groups in Iran and nearby areas make ayran by pouring yogurt into a special bag made from a sheep’s skin, called a waterskin. They shake it well to separate the butter from the liquid. This process can take a lot of time and effort, so sometimes they hang the bag on a wooden frame to make it easier. After separating the butter, the leftover liquid, called doogh, is enjoyed as a refreshing drink. In Pakistan, this drink is known as Namkeen Lassi.

History

Ayran started in Central Asia with Turkic tribes. An old book from around the year 1000 called Dīwān ul-Lughat al-Turk describes ayran as a "drink made out of milk".

There are other drinks like ayran, such as doogh in Iran, t’an in Armenia, and lassi in the Indian subcontinent. Though they are similar, they are not exactly the same as ayran.

Variations

Salt, black pepper, dried mint, and lime juice can be added to ayran. Some people like to stir in diced cucumbers for a bit of crunch. In some places, ayran is made fizzy by adding carbonation.

In Balkan countries, people often enjoy ayran for breakfast or lunch with pastries like banitsa or börek.

In Turkey, there are special types of ayran. One is called Susurluk Ayranı, where the drink is poured quickly from one container to another to create a foamy top.

In some parts of Turkey, ayran is mixed in a way that makes it very frothy, called Yayık Ayranı. In the Malatya area, there is a spicy version known as Malatya Spicy Ayran, which was officially registered in April 2022.

In Afghanistan, ayran, known as doogh or shromba, is a summer drink made with yogurt, salt, mint, diced cucumbers, and lime, and sometimes it is fizzy. It is often enjoyed with bolani, a type of Afghan flatbread, and other picnic foods.

In Albania, ayran is called dhallë and is made only with yogurt, salt, and water, served cold. The name 'dhallë' comes from the way it is mixed and shaken.

In Southern Cyprus, a version called ayrani is made with sour sheep yogurt, water, salt, and mint.

In Russia and some Eastern European countries, a similar drink called kefir is made from fermented milk using kefir grains. The word may come from the Turkic word köpür, meaning "to froth". Kefir is also known in Turkey, but it is not as commonly drunk as traditional ayran.

Turkish national drink status

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, a Turkish leader, has encouraged people to drink ayran, calling it a special drink of Turkey. He talked about this during a meeting in Istanbul in 2013, saying that drinks like beer were newer to the country.

Even so, ayran is not as popular as other drinks without alcohol in Turkey. Reports from 2015 showed that fewer people were drinking ayran each year, especially during Ramadan.

In 2015, Turkey’s government fined a big tea company because one of their ads made a joke about ayran. The ad said the drink might make someone feel sleepy, and the government did not like this.