Ayran

Yogurt, water, and salt — an ancient Central Asian fermented dairy drink now considered Turkey's national drink, related to Iran's doogh and South Asia's lassi.

Ayran is one of the world's oldest fermented dairy drinks, with a history stretching across Central Asia, Anatolia, and the Middle East for thousands of years. The drink — made by whisking yogurt with water and salt — is rooted in the nomadic cultures of Central Asia, where fermented dairy products were nutritional necessities for peoples who raised livestock across the steppes. Turkish culinary tradition considers ayran the ideal accompaniment to grilled meats, kebabs, and spicy dishes, prized for the way its cooling, probiotic character balances bold flavors. In modern Turkey, ayran is considered a national drink, and the Konya region has been associated with its production for centuries. Commercially, the brand became so tied to national identity that Turkish airlines serve it as a standard beverage. The drink has spread throughout South Asia and the Arab world under various regional names, including doogh in Iran and lassi in South Asia.