"Steaming, creamy drinks hit differently during winter seasons, and when it comes to beverages that warm from the inside out, some have been around for centuries, like sachlav. In addition to hot chocolate, sachlav is a common order in Israel. Originally made from ground orchid bulbs or salep (aka Carla Hall's favorite underrated ingredient), this satisfying sipper has since found fans around the world."
"Before coffee and tea captivated European audiences, sachlav was enjoyed. In its simplest form, sachlav (which means orchid in Hebrew) is made with orchid powder and milk. Rose water or orange blossom can add flavor to recipes. Though the beverage may present variations from country to country, cups are commonly topped with an array of garnishes like shredded coconuts, raisins, pistachios, and dustings of cinnamon."
"When orchid tubers are ground, the resulting flour is quite aromatic. Orchids have long been used medicinally, and sachlav has gained reputation as an aphrodisiac. Love for this drink nearly caused extinction of a wild orchid variety in southern Turkey until the export of Turkish orchid powder was forbidden."
Sachlav is a creamy hot beverage originating in the Middle East and Turkey, enjoyed before coffee and tea dominated Europe. Originally prepared from ground orchid bulbs or salep mixed with water, sweetener, and milk, the drink later commonly used orchid powder combined with milk and flavored with rose water or orange blossom. Cups are frequently garnished with shredded coconut, raisins, pistachios, and cinnamon. The drink goes by many names—sachlav in Israel, salep or salepi in Turkey and Greece, and saloop in historical England, where it was cheaper than coffee and tea. Orchids used for salep produce aromatic flour, have medicinal and aphrodisiac reputations, and overharvesting nearly extinguished a wild Turkish variety until exports were banned.
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