Ayran

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Ayran

Ayran, Turkish Buttermilk or Tan (IPA: [aɪˈran]) (Turkish: Ayran; Bulgarian: айрян or sometimes мътеница / бърканица (literally dreggy or oily liquid); Macedonian: аjрaн, мyченца; Greek: Αϊράνι; Armenian: Թան; Albanian: Dhallë) is a drink made of yoghurt and water. It's also popular in Balkans, Middle East and Near Asia. The ayran made from sheep yoghurt has a quite thick taste, fatty but also delicious. It is similar to the Iranian drink, Doogh.

Salt is usually added to ayran for flavour, not often to the Bulgarian ayran, and sometimes ground black pepper, not to the Bulgarian ayran. It is served cool, and usually accompanies döner, kebab, banitsa or pastry. Some forms of fresh ayran include some foam.

In Turkey McDonalds also includes ayran in their standard menu as a local menu addition. Ayran is also very popular elsewhere in the Near and Middle East. In rural areas of Turkey, ayran is offered as a "standard" drink to guests. "We have come to drink your ayran" say the guests. In Azerbaijan, Syria, and Lebanon, it is available in all restaurants as well as fast food shops. Outside Turkey and Bulgaria, it may be found at döner kebab outlets.

In Bulgaria and Greece one can usually buy ayran from food stores or fast food places but it is very common for one to just make it at home. You can make ayran by just adding water to a glass of yoghurt in about a 1:1 proportion. Adding salt is not really common but it is up to the person.

Another recipe common to Turkey, the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Iran and Armenia includes finely chopped mint leaves mixed into the Ayran ^{[citation needed]}. This variation is particularly popular during summertime in Turkey and is considered very refreshing ^{[citation needed]}.

Ayran has become so popular in Turkey that it is often regarded as a separate market in contrast to the juice and soda industries, and is a challenge for "modern" soft-drink companies such as Coca-Cola.

Armenians and Arabs call this same drink tan, and it is better known by that name in the United States when it is sold in Near and Middle Eastern markets.