200ml milk

5 teaspoons of sugar

1/3 teaspoon of salep powder

a drop of rose water

+ dried rose petals

I knew from a very dear Albanian friend that you could drink salep powder with water and milk. She made them both for me in Gjirokastër two years ago but I’ve only tried the milk version since in AlUla. And I fell in love!

(Note 1: You can use plant-based milk. Note 2: Cornstarch has become very popular as a salep powder substitute. In this drink, however, I prefer the latter.)  

Mix the milk, the sugar, and the salep powder. Let it boil (it will thicken a bit).

Add some rose water to your mix.

Then, pour everything into a cup and sprinkle dried rose petals on top.

You’ll love it. It took me back to Saudi Arabia. Really.

Because in the hot season, life usually starts in Saudi Arabia after 5pm and it’s difficult to find breakfast, this was one of our life savers during our trip there. This and the juices.  

I’m not a coffee drinker (I just chew the coffee beans – don’t laugh); still, I enjoyed it.

With the help of my kitchen elf, here’s the recipe.

You’ll need—

1 espresso

150ml milk

3 teaspoons of sugar

3 tbsp of pistachio butter

+ dried rose petals to decorate your latte

First, make the espresso.

Then, boil the milk and the sugar until it’s foamy.

Add the pistachio butter to an empty cup.

Pour the milk over the pistachio butter and then the espresso.

Decorate with dried rose petals if you have any; we found some from Medina.

For a full experience, mix. ♥