Ayran

File:Fresh ayran.jpg

Fresh ayran with a head of foam (Istanbul, Turkey).

Ayran (Turkish) is a yogurt-based beverage, popular in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Uzbekistan and other parts of the Balkans, Central Asia, Kurdistan, and the Middle East. In Albania it is called dhallë, in Armenian tahn, Bulgaria ayryan (айрян), in Greece and Cyprus ariani (αριάνι), and in Kurdish Regions mastaw ('yogurt water'). Similar beverages include Indian lassi and Iranian doogh.

Ayran is a mixture of yogurt, cold water, and sometimes salt. It is thought to have originated as a way of preserving yogurt by adding salt.

Regional variations, use, and availability

In Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kurdistan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, and Turkey ayran is commonly available in restaurants.

In some regions it is made with cucumber juice in place of some or all of the water, flavored with garlic, finely chopped mint leaves, or heavily salted (such in as Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Turkey

International fast-food companies, such as McDonald's, include ayran in their menu.

Ayran is usually served chilled, and is a common accompaniment to döner, kebab, gözleme, or pastry.

Minced cucumber may be added to ayran (or, more commonly, diluted yogurt) with garlic to make cacık.

Bulgaria

Ayran is commonly consumed with fast food, such as Banitsa from street vendors. A Bulgarian subsidiary of the international food and drinks company Danone produces Ayran, and McDonald's includes Ayran in its menu.

Gallery

• Ayran.jpg

  Ayran produced and labeled as a "Turkish drink" by the Swedish company Larsa Foods.

• Ayran 20090404 001.JPG

  Danone-produced Bulgarian ayran

• Armenian Ayran.jpg

  Russian ayran

See also

Similar Beverages:

• Cacık
• Chal
• Chalap
• Doogh
• Lassi
• Moru (beverage)

External links

• How to make Ayran

ar:عيران uk:Айран