Your Egypt

[Monica]

A little background for you.


A delectable treat in Egypt are the fresh fruit juices (asiir) available at small stalls throughout Egypt.

The shopkeepers blend the whole fruit and small amounts of ice and sugar water and then strain this mash into your glass--the resulting drinks have been described as ambrosia.

Juices, which are made from fruits in season, include farawla (strawberry), manga (mango), mohz (banana),and burtu'aan (orange) and are especially welcome in hot weather.

In addition to pure fruit juices, you can also get them made of vegetables such as khiyar (cucumber), tamaatim (tomato), and gazar (carrot). For a new experience, experiment with some of their combination drinks: nuss wa nuss (carrot and orange), an unexpectedly delightful concoction, or mohz bi-laban, a blend of bananas and milk; an Egyptian milkshake. Delicious...

Asiir lamoon, common throughout Egypt, is a strong, sweet version of lemonade.

In the past few years canned and packaged juices have become common, but their flavor cannot compare with the freshly made varieties.

Members...please add drink recipes if you'd like!! Thanks.......

The following one is a drink served at home...or in some public restaurants...

Carcadet...


Pronounced Carcadeih... is one of the most popular and unusual drinks that you can find in Egypt. Made from the dried, dark red petals of the Hibiscus flower. It is served in many of the popular cafe's throughout Egypt. The best one comes from Upper Egypt. Be sure to bring home a bag of dried petals from Aswan or Luxor.

1 cup hibiscus petals
2 cups sugar

Pick over the dried petals, removing any stems or leaves. Soak the hibiscus petals in cold water to cover for 1-2 hours. Transfer the petals and water to a pot and bring to a boil. Remove the pot immediately and strain the liquid through filter paper. Return the petals to the pot, add fresh cold water to cover, and repeat as above. Repeat the process until the Carcadet loses its reddish hue. Then, discard the petals and sweeten the juice while it is still hot. Serve cold, although it is a pleasant drink when served warm in the wintertime.

It is possible to purchase hibiscus tea bags from other lands as a substitute, but the intensity of flavor will not be the same.

[Monica]

If Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade ~ refreshing for a summer day in Egypt ~........

Lemonade (asiir lamoon) is one of my favorite drinks in Egypt. There is simply something about the way it is made that is different from any other lemonade I have ever tasted.

Place 6 cups water and 2 unpeeled, quartered lemons in a pot and bring to a boil, then cover and simmer over medium heat for 20 minutes. Strain into a teapot, stir in the 5 tablespoons sugar and for some, adding 1 tablespoon of Orange Blossom Water ( Mazahar ) is also pleasant.

Bring to a boil let it cool in the fridge, and serve with ice.

[Monica]

For Coffee Lovers.................

Harris Café...Heliopolis...





Also...


Café Greco, Maadi

Coffee Shop
Address: 64, Road 9 map
Maadi
Cairo,
Phone: 202-380-9326

Grand Café
Coffee Shop ++
Nile View
Music
Food
Address: Corniche El Maadi
Maadi
Cairo,
Phone: 202-380-7074

[Marky]

Ahlan ya Monica!

Sweet Memories! :D

I brought back a huge bag of karkadé last time :D


On my first trip to Egypt a while ago, I also had "tamarhende" which is a nice drink made from tamarinds :)


Salam,
Marky

[Peter]

There is an egyptian cold rice drink. It is called sobya.
How is it made?