In Episode #36, co-hosts Beata and Bita cover a variety of popular Persian drinks, known as "nooshidani" in Farsi. They also share some cultural stories and family memories.
- Persian Tea | Chai
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- Black tea double boiled - one pot of concentrated tea leaves simmering on top of a 2nd pot with plain hot water
- Sometimes flavored with cardamom and a touch of rose/rose petals
- Served in a clear tea cups, dark brewed tea first, topped off with plain boiling water
- A decaf version of Persian tea
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- Plain hot water served with fresh mint leaves
- Dough
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- Salty yogurt drink, often carbonated and seasoned with dried mint
- Served over ice and alongside kababs
Fruit juices | Ab Meeveh
- Pomegranate juice
- Carrot juice and carrot juice floats
- Melon juice (often cantaloupe)
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- Pulp included (melon is grated), a little rose water - refreshing summer drink
- Orange Juice
Health tip - keep fibers (vs using the juice only/high sugar); prepare with whole fruits in a blender/smoothie form, for maximum health benefits
Sharbats | Syrups (served diluted with water and served over ice)
- Sharbat sekanjabin - traditional minty honey vinegar syrup (refer to episode 35 for more info on sekanjabin)
- Sour cherry syrup
- Lemon juice syrup
- Tokhmeh sharbat
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- Basil seeds (chia seeds can be substituted)
Alcoholic drinks
- Shiraz wine
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- A red wine originally the red grapes were from the city of Shiraz in Iran - today they often come from France's Rhone Valley, Australia, or South Africa
- Also known as a Syrah
- Persian beer!
- Sharbats | Persian syrup drinks that are spiked with a hard alcohol
- Persian-ish fruit juices that are spiked with a hard alcohol
Persian coffee, Turkish coffee | Ghafeh Tork
- Made with a very finely ground coffee, water, and sugar in a small tin pot
- The result is a thick, rich, coffee with grounds left at the bottom of the cup
- Served in tiny cups and saucers
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- Turkish coffee fortune telling
- Make a wish (called "niyat") - either while you're drinking it or as you are turning your cup towards yourself/towards your heart
- Leave the cup upside down so the grounds drip on the inside of the cup leaving a pattern
- Common fortunes: you're going on a trip, you can expect some news, you will meet someone special
Ask the Beats!
"What is tarof" from Sarah in Laguna Beach
- An exaggerated politeness, formality, and hospitality in the Persian culture
- Situations where tarof is displayed - serving or offering something (tea, food), insisting someone go first in line, eat first, serve themselves first; insisting to pay for a meal at a restaurant; invitations
Resources from this episode:
Bita's: Sekanjabin recipe
NYC Persian Beer referenced in episode: BackHomeBeer.com
All Modern Persian Food episodes can be found at: https://modernpersianfood.com/episodes/
Co-host Beata Nazem Kelley blog: https://beatseats.com
Co-host Bita Arabian blog: https://ovenhug.com
Podcast production by Alvarez Audio
