Sharbat sekanjabin (cucumber mint drink) is a refreshing summer drink made from a honey and water simple syrup, cooked down with white wine vinegar, then infused with fresh mint leaves and served with freshly grated cucumber.
Sharbat is Farsi for drink or beverage. Sekanjabin can be broken down and translated to vinegar syrup. Sekanjabin is an ancient concoction dating back to our Persian ancestors. It is said to have medicinal properties and a cooling effect. The cucumbers and mint mixed in with the sweet and tangy syrup really hit the spot on a hot summer day.
The experience is extra fun because after you sip the drink, you scoop out and eat the cool cucumber bits and pieces. The drink itself reminds me of 7-Up or Sprite – crisp, refreshing and tangy, meanwhile all-natural.
There are a couple of ways Persian honey vinegar syrup is traditionally used in Persian cuisine.
Sekanjabin two ways:
- as a dipping sauce for crisp romaine lettuce leave
- diluted with water and served with grated cucumber as a drink
The recipe we’re sharing today is for the beverage, or in Farsi, the sharbat version of sekanjabin. Drinking this Persian mint and honey drink is nothing short of intoxicating. It is a great base for modern cocktails, however, I like to keep it pure and serve it in the traditional manner – in a tall glass with ice cubes and a spoon to scoop out the chunks of cool, grated cucumbers. There are a few tastes that from the first drop take you back to distant memories and sekanjabin is one of them.
I love making a big batch of sekanjabin and storing it in a mason jar in the refrigerator. A little goes a long way. Just add the syrup and dilute it with water until the level of your preferred sweetness is achieved. Storing sekanjabin is easy due to the acidic nature of vinegar, this syrup keeps easily in the refrigerator for up to a month or so.
Another good Persian recipe that is light and cooling on hot summer days is Persian Cucumber Yogurt Dip Mast o Khiar. The same old medicinal properties apply – cucumber and mint cool the system and helps balance digestion.
For another refreshing Persian treat, be sure to try our tips and recipe for easy Persian Nice Cream Bastani!
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