Coffee? Tea? Hot chocolate? Not quite any of them. Sahlep is a warm classic with a character all its own.
Sahlep is neither coffee nor tea
Sahlep is a traditional hot drink, especially popular in Turkey. It is much creamier than ordinary tea and far milder in flavour than coffee. Its gently sweet, warming taste pairs particularly well with cinnamon.
What does sahlep taste like?
Sahlep is less about one dominant flavour and more about the overall experience: warm, smooth, creamy, lightly sweet and delicately spiced. Cinnamon adds another layer of warmth and aroma without overpowering the drink. For anyone looking for something warm and creamy, it is a pleasant alternative to coffee.
Why does sahlep suit cold evenings so well?
Some drinks can be enjoyed all year round, yet somehow feel especially right when the temperature drops to ten degrees. Sahlep’s warm, creamy texture and cinnamon suit evenings when it is coat weather outside and, once you are settled indoors, there is no great hurry to get up again.
Sahlep or hot chocolate?
Both are warm and creamy, but their flavours go in different directions. Hot chocolate is much more chocolatey and usually more intensely sweet. Sahlep is milder, with its creamy texture and gentle spice taking centre stage.
Sahlep at The Leaf
You will find sahlep on our menu too. Warm, creamy, lightly sweet and finished with cinnamon, it suits the kind of evening we enjoy at The Leaf: arrive, settle in and leave the rest of the schedule open. Perhaps order something to eat or play a round of a game. The sahlep is not going anywhere.
What is sahlep?
A traditional warm, creamy drink that is especially popular in Turkey.
Is sahlep coffee?
No. Sahlep is a hot drink in its own right.
What does sahlep taste like?
Smooth, creamy and lightly sweet, with a delicate touch of cinnamon.
Is sahlep available at The Leaf?
Yes. You will find it among our hot drinks.
