Palestinian Winter Drinks: Sahlab, Sage Tea and Anise
When the rain comes to the hills of Palestine and the evenings turn cold, the kettle and the milk pan come out. Winter drinks are part of family life, served to guests and sipped slowly while talking late into the night.
Sahlab
Sahlab is a thick, warm milk drink, traditionally made with flour from the roots of wild orchids. Today most people use cornflour instead. It is sweetened with sugar, flavoured with rose or orange blossom water and topped with cinnamon, desiccated coconut and chopped pistachios. It tastes like a pudding you can drink.
Maramiya: sage tea
Black tea with a few leaves of fresh or dried sage, known as maramiya, is one of the most common drinks in Palestinian homes. It is usually served sweet in small glasses, and many people swear it helps with an upset stomach.
Yansoon: anise
Anise seeds simmered in water make yansoon, a gentle, liquorice-like drink often given to children and to anyone with a cold.
Make them at home
For sahlab, whisk two tablespoons of cornflour into half a litre of cold milk, add sugar and heat slowly while stirring until it thickens. Finish with a splash of rose water and your toppings. For maramiya, add two or three sage leaves to a pot of black tea and let it steep for a few minutes.
Pair your first sahlab of the season with our I Love Gaza hoodie, made for cold nights in.
FAQ
+What is sahlab made of?
Milk thickened with orchid root flour or, more often today, cornflour, sweetened and topped with cinnamon, coconut and pistachios.
+What is maramiya tea?
Black tea brewed with sage leaves, usually served sweet in small glasses.
+What is yansoon?
A warm drink made by simmering anise seeds in water.
+When do Palestinians drink sahlab?
Mostly in winter, as a warming evening drink for family and guests.
Shop the designs in this article
Keep exploring: Shop hoodies & sweatshirts · Read next: The Palestinian Olive Harvest: Why the Season Matters and How to Support Farmers from the UK
