When I was in Turkey, I saw little carts on the streets near where my sister was living with signs for something called salep but I never knew what it was. My friend Bunny, who was awesome at giving me a ton of suggestions of what to do and where to eat (she did live there for a few months after all), told me I had to try it while I was there. I didn’t know what was it in, all I was told was it was a yummy drink to have when it was cold. So I listened.
When I was there, I asked the waitress what salep is exactly. She was having trouble explaining it to me, only mentioning milk and sugar and that it was “OHhh so good.” I may have cheated a little and ordered a coffee/salep combination. The coffee on top was thinner than what I think was the actual salep on the bottom, which was thicker consistency and tasted (and forgive me, this is the only way I think I can describe it) kind of like egg nog? It was REALLY good though, and I tried looking up a more detailed explanation of what I just had.
I found out the hot drink is made from crushed tapioca root extract. Apparently, it has been noted not only for his health benefits (treating such conditions as dysentery, tuberculosis, and typhoid), but also for its aphrodisiac effects. In Greece, they flavor it with honey and eat it for breakfast; in India, it’s mixed with milk and spices and served to the sick; even in France, it’s served as soup or jelly. In Turkey though, it’s mainly served during the cold seasons. The tubers are collected in the summer and hung to dry. Apparently, the popularity of salep has led to a decline in the population of wild orchids so it’s now illegal to transport it out of the country. So if you want it, you’ll have to make a trip to Istanbul!
While you’re in Taksim, you should also stop by Özsüt (215 Istiklal Caddesi) for their pastries. They have a full picture menu (well, I guess like a lot of restaurants in the touristy areas of Istanbul), but I was pleasantly surprised when our hazelnut/chocolate/cookie cake came out exactly the way it looked in the picture.
And also super delicious like most of the desserts we had there!
x
Shy
can i just tell you how much i loved reading this post because i was obsessed with Salep after turkey and discovered it while i was at a cafe there and was thinking for the longest time , how i wish someone could open up a Salep Cafe in nyc. Now i know that it will never happen because its illegal. GREAT! you got me craving it again!!
salep (both the flour and the drink) traditionally is actually from the tubers of orchids, not the cassava plant (which produces tapioca).
since the orchid population has been suffering, though, artificial flavors are being used more and more so it is possible that they are also using ingredients like tapioca to make it in some places now.