Tursu Suyu

Turkish Drinks

As for Turkish drinks, various alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are found in the Turkish culinary culture. Some combinations of food and drinks are indispensable for Turks. All drinks such as tea, Turkish coffee, sahlep, boza, kefir, turnip, and raki are unique to Turks and are called healthy according to consumption. From these drink recipes, various sorbets, which are the famous drink of the Ottoman era, are made from fruits and herbs and appeal to the taste buds of dessert lovers with their sweet taste.

The salty drink recipes of the Turks are one of the indispensable ones eaten alongside kebab, doner, and similar street delicacies. The best examples of such drinks are ayran, turnip, and pickle juice, containing healthy calories. 

Pickle Juice

Pickled juice is a drink that the locals consume in Turkey regardless of the time, it has a sour and salty taste, and gives energy by being healthy. This juice, which you can find in various country provinces, especially in pickle shops and artisan restaurants, is made from different vegetables. The recipe for pickle juice, which locals prefer to get energy and warm up, especially on cold winter days, should be well known and skillfully made. It is essential that there are many kinds of pickles in pickle shops and that these are kept fresh and presented to the visitors.

It is a well-known fact that the Turks eat a lot of pickles, especially in the winter season, along with various dishes. Although eating pickles increases appetite, we think this will not be detrimental. In addition to this, pickled water has benefits such as improving muscle contractions, reducing dehydration, regulating the immune system, and speeding up metabolism. But it will also be in your best interest to pay attention to the amount you drink.

Ingredients with valuable substances such as garlic, vinegar, and tomatoes placed in them increase pickle juice’s taste and health. If you visit Turkey for the first time, you can see the artisan shops selling pickles and witness this different culture.

Pickle Juice Recipe

To make pickle juice, of course, first of all, you need to make a pickle recipe. You can use any of the many vegetables and fruits such as tomatoes, cucumbers, cabbage, eggplants, melons, pears, quince, plums, peppers, mushrooms, onions, garlic, eggplant, cauliflower to make pickles. Although you can’t do it as well as in the shops selling pickle juice, you can quickly pickle it at home and can achieve the best result with a bit of patience.

After the desired ingredients are lined up in the pickle jar, garlic and hot peppers are also added to this order. After that, healthy herbs such as parsley are added to this jar. Water containing ingredients such as rock salt, vinegar, and lemon salt boiled in water is added. One of the ingredients that give the healthy calories of pickle juice is rock salt. Finally, the lid of the pickle jar is closed so that it does not get air, and it is left for about 20 days in a cool dark place. After waiting long enough, you will have tried a delicious taste by consuming the pickle juice of this healthy recipe.

Places of Interest in Istanbul

Istanbul, the most populous city in Turkey, is one of the centers that foreigners and tourists prefer to visit the most. Restaurants and shops reflect Turkish cuisine in the city. These places are also located in tourist centers such as Grand Bazaar and reflect Turkish culture. Let’s look at where you can drink the healthy pickle juice we mentioned above in Istanbul.

The first of the oldest pickle juice and pickle shops in Istanbul is Asri Turşuculuk, serving since 1913. For those going to consume pickle juice as a drink for the first time, this place is one of the most suitable start. The pickle juice here is neither too sweet nor sour but entirely consistent.

Soydan Pickle is another very famous pickle juice serving place located in the bazaar of Beşiktaş, Istanbul. In this place, you can taste delicious pickles such as cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, plums, and gherkins and drink the juices of these pickles. Finally, it would be correct to show an example of visiting Petek Turşuları located in Istanbul. Petek Turşuları, which has been in service since 1992, is especially famous for its cherry and apricot pickles.