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Thanks to the extremely hot weather conditions and its unusual setting on the crossroads between Asia and Africa, Egypt has access to a wide variety of fresh fruits which are hard to come by in other similar establishments in the world. Due to the fact that Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol, it’s no surprise that Egypt doesn’t anticipate selling alcoholic beverages more often. But it does have its fair share of non-alcoholic beverages and exotic drinks that you can find in almost every restaurant and hotel. Below is a list of a few popular drinks in Egypt that you must try.
1. Tea
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Considering Egyptians are very fond of their tea, the custom which they adopted from the Arabians, tea is more than just a drink in Egypt – it’s more of a tradition that reflects their identities and personalities. No wonder they drink tea with a passion. One popular mint tea is Shay bil na’na which is served in almost every Egyptian household.
2. Mowz bil-Laban/Jawafa bil-Laban
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Believe it or not, bananas have been growing in Egypt for thousand years, so it’s no surprise they came up with this simple yet exotic banana smoothie which can be enjoyed anytime of the year. Banana or guava is blended together with milk to make this delicious drink. Both the drinks involve relatively the same process, only with guava the seeds has to be strained out.
3. Strawberry/Mango Juice
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Head to any juice shop in Egypt, you’ll surely find strawberry and mango juices all-year-round. They both are common staples in every Egyptian household and make for ideal drinks in weddings and family gatherings. Both are the easiest drinks to identify and make for a fine refreshment any time of the day.
4. Qasab (Sugarcane Juice)
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Yet another popular Egyptian household staple is the sugarcane juice, locally known as ‘qasab’. It’s considered a unique Egyptian drink served chilled to beat the hot summer days. Sugarcane is planted all over the Southern Egypt where the weather conditions and soil are ideal for its plantation.
5. Karkade (Hibiscus Iced Tea)
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This popular hibiscus iced tea is believed to have been a favorite drink among the pharaohs. In Egypt, wedding celebrations are traditionally toasted with a fine glass of hibiscus iced tea, which is considered more of a tradition. This extremely popular drink is supposed to calm nerves, so as the locals believe it. It is a native beverage made from dried hibiscus flowers.
6. Sahlab
Based on an extremely rare orchid, Sahlab is one of the most popular hot drinks in Egypt made from ground orchis mascula, sesame seeds, coconut, sugar, milk with nuts and raisins as toppings. It is served hot in almost every coffee shop in Egypt with chopped pistachios and cinnamons as garnish.
7. Qamar al-Din (Apricot Juice)
This is a stewed apricot juice prepared from dried apricot paste, served during the holy month of Ramadan to break the fast. Qamar al-Din literally translates to “moon of religion,” which is savored throughout much of the Middle East, especially Syria and Egypt.
8. Tamrhindi (Tamarind Juice)
Almost every juice vendor in Egypt serves this delicious tamarind juice, which is a popular household dinner staple. It is made in pretty much the same way as the hibiscus juice, only it is served cold. This is also a favorite Ramadan delight, which the people usually take after “Iftar”, along with the apricot juice.
9. Sobia (Coconut with Milk)
A popular coconut flavored milk in Egypt, Sobia is a refreshingly cool sweet drink sold by the street vendors heavily during the holy month of Ramadan. It’s not just milk, it’s coconut milk and is a real thirst quencher. They are usually sold in plastic bottles all year round at most juice shops.
10. Fayrouz
Fayrouz is a unique blend of malt, real fruit, and sparkling water, and comes in many flavors such as Apple, Peach, Pear, and Pineapple. It’s a unique refreshing drink free from all preservatives and artificial flavors, created especially for fun that brings you a fresh and natural taste.
Have a good trip and travel!
