Ayran

Ayran is a drink made of Yoghurt and water, popular in Turkey.Ayran is a mixture of yoghurt, water, and salt. It is thought to have originated as a way of preserving yogurt by adding salt.

ayran by kellyv27

Ayran is so popular in Turkey that it is often regarded as a market separate to that for the juice and soda industries. It is a challenge for "modern" soft-drink companies such as Coca-Cola. International fast-food companies such as McDonald's include Ayran in their standard menu as a local menu addition. In Azerbaijan, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, it is available in all restaurants and fast-food shops. In other countries, it may be found at döner kebab outlets.

In rural areas of Turkey, ayran is offered as a "standard" drink to welcome guests.

Ayran is served cool, and is a common accompaniment to döner, kebab, banitsa, gözleme, or pastry. Some forms of fresh ayran include foam.