salep

Due to a bevy of international regulations meant to protect the very existence of the species, getting real salep powder in the United States can be tricky and expensive.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, salep became fashionable in Europe and England, where it was called “saloop.”

Around 1,000 to 4,000 orchid plants are used to make a single kilogram of salep, a beloved drink in Turkey that is like a cross between hot chocolate and rice pudding.

The traditional coffeehouses, regulated by the government, are licensed to sell tea and coffee and other soft drinks, including salep, a popular beverage made from orchid bulbs that dates from Ottoman times.

“I still can’t. Food-wise, salep is what I really miss the most.”