Ayran is a savory, chilled yogurt-based drink made by diluting yogurt with cold water and adding salt, sometimes with mint. It is especially associated with Turkey, where it is considered close to a national drink, and closely related versions are consumed under other names across the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia and the wider Middle East, generally in regions with a strong tradition of yogurt and dairy fermentation. Ayran is commonly served alongside grilled meats and other savory food, valued as a cooling counterpart to spicy or rich dishes, and it is produced both commercially, in bottled and carbonated forms, and traditionally at home.
Facts
Origin Period, From (Year)The drink's own invention date is unrecorded; the earliest secure textual attestation is a Turkic dictionary of about 1000 CE, the Diwan ul-Lughat al-Turk, which defines ayran as a milk-based drink. Origin RegionCentral Asia (Turkic peoples) 1 Connections
Sources
1. Ayran (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHistory subsectionQuote, History subsection
A c. 1000 CE Turkic dictionary, Dīwān ul-Lughat al-Turk, defines ayran as a "drink made out of milk".
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