“The title doesn’t
match the content in your blog” said my best friend today.
“Well”, I
told him, “Wait till you hear the story of the title.”
It all began
in the Turkish House Restaurant in Muscat on a chilly February evening.
“The drink is
complimentary” announced the waiter as he courteously served our dinner.
“What is it?”
we asked him as we eyed the tall emerald glasses dripping with condensed droplets.
“Its lemon
and mint, totally Middle-Eastern” he smiled as he busied himself.
Our glasses
tinkled as we raised them to say “Cheers!” It was our wedding anniversary.
The first
sip was like a moment of epiphany.
The citrusy freshness
of the lemon combined with the zing of fresh mint leaves and the sweetness of
honey was something we had never tasted before. It reminded us of the Arabian
nights and the Silk route. There was something essentially traditional about
the drink. We drank it like it was part of a religious ritual.
Ever since
then, every time I make it at home, we return to that wintry evening in the
Turkish Restaurant. All my friends who have lived in the Middle East probably
have similar experiences about this wonderful drink. The lowly lemon, the
modest mint, and the humble honey - all have their merits in herbal remedies too. However,
when put together, it is an extraordinary combo.
For some, this
drink is like a magic potion which fires the imagination and makes creative
juices flow.
It inspires
me to write.
The Recipe:
(Yields 2 glasses)
1 lemon
A handful of mint leaves
1 tablespoon honey/sugar
2 cups water
Ice cubes and a pinch of salt, if desired
Well, you simply pop all these ingredients into the blender and voila! You are ready to say "Cheers!"
But remember, there is a strict order in which you put them in the blender.
Firstly, in goes the honey/sugar.
Add lemon juice.
Add salt.
Add water.
Add mint leaves.
Blend.
Pour out in glasses and add ice cubes.
If, however, you blend the mint leaves first, the colour of the drink becomes a very unappetising brown.
Enjoy your zing.
(There is plenty of space to scroll below. I am still trying to figure out how that happened. Please ignore.)
The Recipe:
(Yields 2 glasses)
1 lemon
A handful of mint leaves
1 tablespoon honey/sugar
2 cups water
Ice cubes and a pinch of salt, if desired
Well, you simply pop all these ingredients into the blender and voila! You are ready to say "Cheers!"
But remember, there is a strict order in which you put them in the blender.
Firstly, in goes the honey/sugar.
Add lemon juice.
Add salt.
Add water.
Add mint leaves.
Blend.
Pour out in glasses and add ice cubes.
If, however, you blend the mint leaves first, the colour of the drink becomes a very unappetising brown.
Enjoy your zing.
(There is plenty of space to scroll below. I am still trying to figure out how that happened. Please ignore.)
