Sekanjabin facts for kids
Sekanjabin is a very old and popular Iranian drink. It is made from a mix of honey and vinegar. People often drink Sekanjabin in the summer to cool down. Sometimes, fresh mint is added to give it a special taste.
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What's in a Name?
The name Sekanjabin tells you what it's made of! It comes from two old Persian words. These words are serke, which means "vinegar," and angabin, which means "honey." The name traveled through the Arabic language over time. This is why the sound of "g" changed a bit to "j" in the name we use today.
How to Make Sekanjabin
Sekanjabin is a syrup that you mix with water to make a refreshing drink. There are a few ways to make it. You can use honey or sugar as the main sweet part.
Honey Sekanjabin Recipe
This recipe uses honey for sweetness.
Ingredients
- 1 and 1/3 cups of honey
- 1 cup of water
- 2/3 cup of white vinegar
How to Make It
- Mix the honey, water, and vinegar in a pot.
- Gently heat the mixture.
- As it cooks, you might see foam on top. Carefully skim this foam off.
- You can add fresh mint, shredded cucumbers, or a little lime zest. This gives it extra flavor.
- Once it's ready, let it cool down.
- To serve, mix the syrup with cold water and ice.
Sugary Sekanjabin Recipe
This version uses sugar to make the sweet syrup.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of sugar
- 2 cups of water
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
- A small bunch of fresh mint, washed
- 2 small seedless cucumbers, washed, peeled, and shredded
- Lime rind (optional, for extra flavor)
How to Make It
- Get a pot with a thick bottom. Put the sugar and water into it.
- Heat the pot over medium heat. Stir until all the sugar has dissolved.
- Lower the heat and let it gently boil for about 10 to 15 minutes.
- Now, add the 1/2 cup of vinegar.
- Let it simmer for another 25 to 30 minutes. It should start to get thicker like a syrup.
- Taste the syrup carefully. You can add a little more sugar if you want it sweeter. Or add a tiny bit more vinegar if you want it more sour.
- In the last minute or two of cooking, add a few fresh mint leaves to the syrup.
- Take the pot off the heat. Let the syrup cool down, then put it in the refrigerator.
- Once it's cold, remove the mint leaves from the syrup.
- To enjoy your drink, mix the cold syrup with ice water. Add some shredded cucumber and a little lime.
How to Serve Sekanjabin
Sekanjabin is often served with crisp, fresh lettuce on the side. You can dip the lettuce into the drink! Instead of white vinegar, you can try other kinds of vinegar. Some people like to use flavored vinegars, like peach vinegar. You can also add a tiny bit of rose water or orange blossom water for a special scent and taste.
