🍶 Ayran
Also known as: dhallë
A fermented milk drink of Anatolia, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Ayran is a refreshing fermented milk drink common among Turkic, Caucasian and Balkan peoples, as well as in the Middle East and Central Asia. In the classic version, a thick fermented milk product (yogurt, katyk) is stirred or whisked with cold water and salt into a smooth, frothy mix. Sometimes mint or other herbs are added, and there are also carbonated versions.
Turkic peoples have been drinking ayran for about a thousand years. In Türkiye it is considered the national drink, and it is served in most restaurants in Bulgaria. At the same time, in a number of areas (in the Altai, among Kazakhs, Bashkirs and Nogais, and in the Caucasus mountains) the name ayran refers to a separate fermented milk drink soured without dilution, and recipes vary widely.
Ayran differs from lassi in being almost always salty and thin, and from kefir in that it needs no kefir grains and is usually made from yogurt. It is drunk with meat, kebabs, pastries and in hot weather; diluted ayran is the base of cold soups such as Turkish cacık.
How it connects to milk
Links
- Served in
- 🥣 Piala
- How it is made
- 🔄 Fermentation
- Made from
- 🥛 Milk
- Where it is traditional
- 🌍 Anatolia and the Middle East, 🌍 Central Asia, 🌍 Caucasus
- Which peoples make it
- 🧑🤝🧑 Turks, 🧑🤝🧑 Kazakhs
- Product type
- 🏺 Traditional dairy products
- Part of
- 🥣 Fermented milk products
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ayran and kefir?
Classic ayran is yogurt or katyk diluted with water and salt; kefir is fermented with kefir grains containing yeast. Ayran is thinner and saltier.
What is the difference between ayran and tan?
They are very similar drinks: tan is the Armenian name, ayran the Turkic one. Both are made from a fermented milk product, water and salt.
What is ayran made of?
Yogurt or katyk, cold water and salt; mint is sometimes added.
Comparisons
Similar
🍶 Shubat · 🍶 Kumis · 🧀 Kurt · 🥣 Yogurt · 🧀 Matsoni · 🥣 Katyk
ℹ️ Dairy products contain lactose and milk proteins: if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein, ask a doctor.