Şalgam

Şalgam is a popular vegetable-based street from the Mediterranean region of Türkiye, most popular in the cities of Adana, Mersin, and Osmaniye. In Turkish, the word salgam means turnip, even though the drink is made from purple carrots, ground bulgur, salt, yeast, and water.

It is flavored only with fermented aromatic turnip (çelem). The drink is traditionally served cold in large glasses with pickled carrots (tane) cut into long slices, and sometimes a spoonful of red hot pepper relish stirred into the drink just before serving. Şalgam is most commonly paired with a spicy Adana kebab or served alongside raki, the famous Turkish anise beverage.

It is believed that it has many health benefits - it eases digestion, reduces swelling, and increases appetite.