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Erk sous
Liquorice root drink
Erk sous (araq sous): Damascus street drink of liquorice root, cold-dripped and served icy
In the lanes of old Damascus and Aleppo, the erk sous seller is heard before he is seen, clacking brass cups as he walks with a great curved jug strapped to his back. His drink is liquorice root, slowly dripped through with cold water, dark, earthy, faintly bitter and naturally sweet, poured with a flourish over the shoulder during Ramadan iftars and hot afternoons. At home a sieve and a cloth do the job. The mistake people make is pouring boiling water over the root, which pulls out harsh bitterness; cold water and patience give a smooth, foamy drink. Liquorice root raises blood pressure if you drink a lot of it, so keep to a glass or two a day and skip it if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure. Chef's tip: a pinch of bicarbonate of soda in the damp root gives the drink its traditional thick, frothy head.
- Total time
- 15 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
- 1 ⅜ oz ground liquorice rootsold as 'sous' in Middle Eastern shops
- ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 3 tbsp water
- 6 ¼ cups cold water
- 12 ice cubes
- 1 tbsp sugar (optional)only if you like it sweeter
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What you'll need
Spices & pantry
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 1 ⅜ oz ground liquorice root with ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda and 3 tbsp water in a bowl and rub between your fingers until it is like damp soil. Cover and leave for 2 hours (or overnight in the fridge); it darkens and swells.
120 minStep 2: Line a sieve with a clean thin cloth or two coffee filters and set it over a jug. Pack the damp root into it.
Step 3: Pour 6 ¼ cups cold water over the root a little at a time, letting each pour drip through before adding more. When it has all passed through, pour the dark liquid back over the root once more for a stronger drink.
20 minStep 4: Taste and stir in 1 tbsp sugar if you want. Chill well.
Step 5: To serve, pour from a height into glasses over 12 ice cubes so it froths up. It keeps 2 days in the fridge.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 15 kcal
- Protein
- 0 g
- Carbs
- 4 g
- Fat
- 0 g
- Fibre
- 0 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does erk sous take?
- About 15 minutes in total.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of bicarbonate of soda?
- Baking powder, three times the amount (the bake may taste slightly different).
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