Local Drinks

1. شاي

   Shāy

   Tea (shay)

   Usage

   In Egypt tea is brewed strong and drunk in glasses, usually very sweet; tell the server how much sugar you want.

   Grammar Note

   شاي is a loan word; the ا is a long ā and the final ي is y.

2. قهوة

   Ahwa

   Coffee or coffeehouse (ahwa)

   Usage

   Means both coffee and the traditional coffeehouse. Turkish-style coffee comes with sugar added to your order.

   Grammar Note

   The ق is a glottal stop in speech, so the romanization starts with a vowel (Ahwa).

3. نسكافيه

   Niskafēh

   Nescafé (instant coffee)

   Usage

   Common word for instant coffee; ask for it by that name in cafes and hotels.

   Grammar Note

   A loan from the Nescafé brand; the ending is a long ē.

4. كركديه

   Karkadē

   Karkadeh (hibiscus tea)

   Usage

   Red infusion from hibiscus petals, drunk hot or cold, also served at weddings and celebrations.

   Grammar Note

   Ends in ē; signs may write it karkadeh.

5. عصير قصب

   ʿAṣīr ʾaṣab

   Sugarcane juice

   Usage

   Freshly pressed sugarcane, a popular sweet drink on Cairo streets in summer.

   Grammar Note

   عصير + ingredient; ق is a glottal stop in speech.

6. سوبيا

   Sūbya

   Sobia (cold sweet coconut-rice drink)

   Usage

   A sweet, white cold drink sold at stalls in summer and during Ramadan.

   Grammar Note

   The name ends in -ya.

7. سحلب

   Saḥlab

   Sahlab (hot milk drink with nuts)

   Usage

   Winter drink of hot milk thickened with orchid-root starch, topped with nuts and coconut.

   Grammar Note

   ح is a throat h.

8. عرقسوس

   ʿIrʾsūs

   Licorice drink

   Usage

   Dark, cold drink made from licorice root, sold by vendors carrying brass tanks; popular in summer and Ramadan.

   Grammar Note

   Starts with ʿ (ʿayn).

9. تمر هندي

   Tamr hindi

   Tamarind drink

   Usage

   Cold sweet-sour drink made from tamarind pulp.

   Grammar Note

   Literally "Indian date"; this is the word for tamarind.

10. ينسون

    Yansūn

    Anise tea

    Usage

    Hot herbal tea from anise seeds, drunk after meals and in winter to settle the stomach.

    Grammar Note

    The initial ي is y; the stress falls on the long ū.

11. خروب

    Kharrūb

    Carob juice

    Usage

    Sweet cold drink from carob pods, a Ramadan favorite.

    Grammar Note

    The rr is a doubled consonant.

12. لبن رايب

    Laban rāyib

    Laban rayeb (fermented milk)

    Usage

    Tangy fermented milk like thin yogurt, drunk with meals. In Egypt plain لبن means milk; the fermented kind is لبن رايب.

    Grammar Note

    رايب is a participle meaning "curdled".

13. زبادي

    Zabādi

    Yogurt

    Usage

    Sold sweetened or plain; eaten in sandwiches and desserts.

    Grammar Note

    The final ي is read -i.

14. عصير مانجو

    ʿAṣīr mānga

    Mango juice

    Usage

    Popular at summer juice bars; thick and sweet.

    Grammar Note

    مانجو is a loan; the colloquial form is mānga.

15. عصير جوافة

    ʿAṣīr gawāfa

    Guava juice

    Usage

    A staple at Egyptian juice bars; thick and sweet.

    Grammar Note

    ج is read g, giving gawāfa.

16. عصير برتقان

    ʿAṣīr burtuʾān

    Orange juice

    Usage

    Freshly squeezed orange juice; in speech the fruit is called burtuʾān.

    Grammar Note

    برتقان is the colloquial form; MSA has برتقال.

17. عصير فراولة

    ʿAṣīr farawla

    Strawberry juice

    Usage

    Strawberry juice, found in the cool seasons.

    Grammar Note

    فراولة is a loan from French.

18. عصير رمان

    ʿAṣīr rummān

    Pomegranate juice

    Usage

    Fresh red pomegranate juice, in season in autumn.

    Grammar Note

    The pattern ʿAṣīr + fruit.

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