Ayran

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Fresh Susurluk Ayranı with a head of froth.

Ayran or laban is a cold beverage of yogurt mixed with cold water and sometimes salt; it is popular in many Central Asian, Middle Eastern and South-eastern European countries.

Similar and possibly related beverages include the Indian lassi and the Iranian doogh.

Name

The name 'ayran' is used in Turkish and Arabic.

Pouring Susurluk Ayranı at a Turkish boutique in Istanbul

• In Albanian it is called Dhallë,
• In Arabic, it is called Leben 'ayrân (لبن عيران)
• In Neo-Aramaic, it is called "dawghe"
• In Armenian, the same^{[citation needed]} drink is called Թան (T'an)
• In Bulgarian, it is known as Ayryan or Ayran (Aйрян, Айран)
• In Greek, Ariani (Aριάνι), or Xinogala (Ξυνόγαλα") (lit. "sour milk")
• In Kurdish, the same drink, is called Dew or Do (depending on dialect)
• In Persian, the same drink, sometimes served carbonated, is called Dûğ/Doogh (دوغ)

History

According to Turkish sources, ayran was developed by the Göktürks. According to Persian sources, ayran (doogh) dates to ancient Persia.

Consumption & variations

Turkey

Consumption

Turkey is the biggest producer of ayran in the world, and has researched the subject extensively. In Turkey, ayran is often regarded as a separate category from other soft drinks.

International fast-food companies in Turkey, such as McDonald's and Burger King, include ayran on their menu.

In rural areas of Turkey, ayran is offered as a "standard" drink to guests.

Ayran is usually served chilled, and is a common accompaniment to any form of grilled meat, pastry, or rice.

Mainstream variations

• Susurluk ayranı - A very frothy kind of ayran, quite popular in Northwestern Turkey
• Yayık ayranı - An ayran that is hand stirred in big horizontal wooden churns. Thick, with close to no froth.
• Ekşili ayran - A sour variety, made out of strained yoghurt that carries a sour, smoky taste, especially if made from ewe's milk. Very popular in the Southeastern provinces.

Staple materials

• In Western Turkey, ayran is usually made with cow milk.
• In Central Anatolia and along the Mediterranean coast, it is mostly made with ewe, and sometimes goat, milk.
• In the Black Sea Region, it is universally made of cow's milk.
• In the Eastern and Southeastern provinces, ewe's milk will dominate.

Albania

In Albania Ayran is called Dhalle. It is made from cow yoghurt mixed with water and is served salted and cold. You can buy it in the market, fast-food chains, Byrektore (A shop where Byrek is made). It is very popular in summer.

Middle East

Ayran also enjoys considerable popularity in the Middle East, where it remains widely available on the market. Leben 'ayrân is mostly made out of strained yoghurt and has a sourer taste than the mainstream Turkish Ayran

Bulgaria

Ayran is commonly consumed with fast food, such as Banitsa from street vendors. McDonald's and Subway include ayran in their menu. The Bulgarian Ayran is typically not salted.

Iran

In the Persian speaking world, ayran, named "Dûğ / دوغ" is often drunk in a carbonated form. In rural Iran, one will often be offered dûğ that is a lightly seasoned with different spices, such as black pepper or mint.

See also

Similar beverages:

• Cacık
• Chal
• Chalap