A Sip of Salep — What Is Real Salep?

A sip of salep is a hot comfort on a snowy day. This thick drink, finished with a sprinkling of cinnamon, takes its name from the tuber of the orchid it is made from.

What is salep?

Salep is a powder made by drying the underground tubers of certain species of wild orchid and grinding them down. Boiled with milk, the powder thickens it — and it is this powder that gives the drink its name.

The word comes from the Arabic phrase hasyu's-sa'leb (“fox’s testicles”) — a name inspired by the shape of the orchid tuber.

Why is it expensive and protected?

A single kilo of salep powder takes thousands of orchid tubers, and these plants grow only in the wild; cultivating them is extremely difficult. Over-harvesting has left many species endangered.

That is why exporting salep from Türkiye is banned. Most of the ready-made mixes on the market contain no real salep at all; they are a blend of starch, milk powder and flavouring. You can tell real salep by its aroma and the silky texture it gives.

How do you make it?

1. Allow about one dessertspoon of salep powder for each glass of milk.
2. Mix it into the cold milk, whisking all the time so that it doesn’t go lumpy.
3. Bring it to the boil over a low heat, without ever stopping stirring.
4. Once it has thickened, take it off the hob and divide it between the glasses.
5. Sprinkle cinnamon on top.

Stop stirring while it boils and it will catch on the bottom of the pan and go lumpy — that is the only tricky part of making salep.

Is it good for a sore throat?

The traditional belief that salep eases coughs and sore throats has to do with the drink’s warmth and the way its thick consistency coats the throat; that is where its soothing effect comes from. It is not a medical treatment, but it is a comfort on a winter’s day.

Salep in ice cream

Salep is also the reason Maraş dondurması, the ice cream of Maraş, can be stretched and is so slow to melt. The combination of goat’s milk and salep gives it that well-known elasticity.

For another winter drink, take a look at boza, a fermented millet drink; for dessert recipes, see the Recipes section.