ADishIndependent states
Ayran
A cooling drink of yoghurt, water and salt — the inseparable companion of kebab and lahmacun in Türkiye.
Ayran is one of the oldest drinks of the Turkic peoples: nomads turned milk into yoghurt and yoghurt, thinned with water, into ayran. It is loved in Azerbaijan and Central Asia too.
In Türkiye it is made by whisking yoghurt with water and a little salt; good ayran has a thick layer of foam. Frothy yayık ayranı served in copper bowls is especially famous.
Ayran is one of the most widely drunk beverages in Türkiye, sold in bottles and cups and ordered with kebab, lahmacun and pide.
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Updated: October 2, 2026