The Cheer up Factor for Winter in Istanbul

Winter anywhere in the world can be cold, wet and miserable, especially when the snow goes mushy and the wind is blowing. Mind you when the snow first begins to fall and a city is blanketed in white, it can seem quite magical. Traffic sounds get muted and the crunch of fresh snow is the only sound. That magical moment soon passes as does the winter, but for those in Turkey one thing is certain, winter means salep (sometimes spelt Sahlep). Now for the uninitiated salep is a drink that is thick, creamy and flows down your throat like silk. Topped with cinnamon the aroma alone is comfort. Historically used for its medicinal properties it is now a popular winter warmer. The earliest documented use was by court physicians as early as the 12th & 13th centuries. Whilst it medicinal properties for curing the sore throats and winter coughs and colds of Ottoman sultans and their families; having aphrodisiac properties probably added its popularity! As a tasty alternative to alcohol, banned in those days, it is no wonder its fame spread to all.

Salep the Magical Drink

Salep sellers abound in Istanbul, as soon as the weather changes the bronze urns come out and the steam lets us know that the drink that warms us from top to toe is available. You can buy salep in the ferries crossing the Bosphorus. On the streets, vendors abound as well as in the cafes and markets. You can buy packets of salep to make at home or even readymade - heat and sprinkle with cinnamon, delicious!
This fabulous drink is made from the tuber of certain types of wild orchid. Orchis, Ophyrus, Serapias, Platanthera Dectylorhiza). It takes 1,000- 4,000 tubers or bulbs to make a kilogram of salep powder. Using so many for this very popular drink, alongside special ice cream and desserts, threatens the survival of these beautiful flowers and they are now protected by the Turkish government and export has been banned. Fortunately it is still available; as an extra special treat, try salep with a dollop of ice cream – a little taste of heaven!