Super Easy Purple Basil Sherbet (Drink)

 

Homemade Purple Basil Sherbet

Turkish Purple Basil Sherbet (Reyhan Şerbeti) Recipe

Turkish cuisine and especially Ottoman cuisine hosts many kinds of beverages and liquid desserts. They are mostly called as "Sherbet", pronounced: "Shur - bit". Sherbet (drinks) have a very important role in Ottoman Cuisine and Anatolian (Turkish) Cuisine. They can be made with fruits, herbs, honey, rose and spices. They are mostly consumed on hot days of summer and they are very healthy drinks. 

In this post we are going to share Purple Basil Sherbet (Drink) with you. Maybe, purple basil may seem like a strange idea for a cold beverage but it is surprisingly addictive and its ever changing purple tones are rather eye catching. We have consumed purple basil sherbet since we were children. This recipe is very unique, healtthy and organic mixture. And it comes from our grand-grand moms. Actually, all sherbets (drinks) in the Ottoman Cuisine are unique, healthy and organic beverages.

What is Ottoman Sherbets!

In the 16th Century, in Ottoman era; Sherbets were verry common beverages for the people in daily time. Sherbets are sweet beverages or sugary liquids used in desserts and also they are consumed as drinks. They can be made with fruit, honey, rose and spices. Actually, the word "sherbet" derives from the Arabic word "shariba", which means "to drink." There are  hundreds of sherbet versions throughout the Anatolia. Sherbet has consumed for centuries as a refreshing drink, especially in summer season in Eastern civilizations, long before the discovery of todays modern beverages. Its expansion to Western civilizations was with the Ottoman Empire.

When we look at the historically; Ottoman traveller Evliya Çelebi saw pomegranate, apricot, rhubarb, poppy and coniine sherbets in eastern part of Anatolia (mostly in Bitlis city, Muş city,  Ağrı city, Batman city, Siirt city, Van city). Moreover, he  mentioned over 300 sherbet shops and 600 sherbet vendors in Istanbul city. 

According to historians; The fruits, herbs, flowers and spice sherbets in the Ottoman Empire began to attract the attention of foreign travelers in the 16th century. Forexample: French botanist "Pierre Belon" traveled the Ottoman country between 1546 and 1551, and wrote a book that included sherbets prepared with figs, plums, pears, peaches, apricots, grapes and honey (usually drunk with ice cubes or shaved ice in summer). Plus, British traveler Fynes Morison wrote that Turks cultivated and consumed all kinds of fruit, and that they used some of them to prepare healthy sherbets on hot summer days. According to him; sherbet, a type of frozen dessert, is another version of this refreshing beverage.

Turkish people serve sherbet in tall pitchers.

Until recent times, Turkish people would serve sherbet during the engagement ceremonies in tall silver pitchers. In todays Turkey, couples in some regions still drink and serve sherbet at their engagement ceremonies. Generally, the ceremony begins with the phrase "Quick, quick bring us the sherbet". Also in some regions, Turks still serve sherbet after weddings or circumcision ceremonies.

Purple Basil Sherbet

How to Make Turkish Purple Basil Sherbet (Reyhan Şerbeti)

Making Reyhan şerbeti is really so easy and recipe is not complicated. Ingredients are so simple that cover purple basil, sugar and lemon juice (or lemon salt). Simply gather all the ingredients into a large heat proof bowl and pour on the freshly boiled water over the ingredients (much like making tisanes). Then stir the mixture and then you can leave sherbet mixture until cooled. The sugar and citric acid will disolve and then all you need to do is simply strain off the purple basil and other ingredients and bottle up. Generally purple basil sherbet is served cold.

Purple Basil is Healthy Herb

Purple Basil is one of the oldest herbs known to the mankind. And, it is so healthy herb. Purple Basil's healing and healthful properties have been the most valuable treasured knowledge throughout the world.

1. Pupple basil sherbet is good for the digestion, 
2. It is anti-flammatory, 
3. It fights free radical activity, 
4. It makes skin care, (apply the paste on your face and let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then wash your face with cold water), 
5. It fights depression, 
6. It effects to diabetes Management, 
7. It supports liver function and helps detoxify the body, 
8. It promotes healthy gut, 
9. It heals an upset tummy, 

Ingredients: 1 Bunch of Purple Basil

Ingredients: Lemon salt, lemon juice and sugar

Ingredients: 6 cups of water

Wash, drain and dry your purple basil well

Boil 6 cups of water

Then pour hot water into pot

Then put your all purple basil into pot and stir

Then add lemon salt, lemon juice and sugar in to pot and stir

Mix all ingredients (basil, lemon salt and juice and sugar)
 in to pot well

Stir mixture until sugar melt. If you want you can 
use only lemon juice or lemon salt. We used both of them 

Then take the purple basil out of the water

Lastly strain with a cheese cloth 

Serve cold

Recipe for Turkish Purple Basil Sherbet (Reyhan Şerbeti)!

Its recipe is so easy, ingredients are so simple and we are sure that; when you try this recipe, you can make this sherbet alot during the summer.

Here it is our Turkish Purple Basil Sherbet (Reyhan Şerbeti) recipe;   

Very good family favourite;

Serve: 6 servings, Preparation Time: 10-15 minutes, Cooking Time: No cooking time, Cuisine: Mediterranean & Anatolian Cuisines (Ottoman Cuisine),

Ingredients:

• 1 bunch of purple basil, 
• 1 cup of sugar,
• 1/2 Teaspoon lemon salt and 1/2 Lemon juice, (or only Juice of 1 lemon),
• 6 Cups of boiling water, (nearly 1,2 liter),

Preparation:

1. First of all, put your all ingredients on your work table. Wash, drain and dry your purple basil well. 
2. Then transfer into a deep pan or glass cookware and then add boiling water over it. 
3. Then add lemon salt, lemon juice and sugar. And stir mixture until the sugar melts, 
4. Then, set aside to cool to room temperature, lid open. 
5. Then take the purple basils out of the water and throw away. 
6. Lastly strain with a cheese cloth and chill. 
7. Serve cold.

Enjoy! 

Please let us know how this "Turkish Purple Basil Sherbet (Reyhan Şerbeti) Recipe" turns out for you in the comments. We are always so eager to hear from you.

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