Salep
The Salep is a hot drink drunk on cold winter days, typical of Turkey and other countries historically influenced by the former Ottoman Empire. It is made from the orchid Orchis mascula and Orchis militaris, with whose tubers an aromatic flour is made, which when diluted in milk gives rise to the drink. It is also known as ثعلب (sa'alab) in Persian, or سحلب (saḥlab) in Arabic.
The basic ingredient of salep is an aromatic flour from a wild orchid. These orchids grow in forests and mountains, especially in calcareous soils, and their aroma is greater and finer when they grow at altitudes between 1000 and 1100 m s. no. m.. In Anatolia the most common orchid species are those of the genera 'Orchis' and 'Ophrys'. Orchids are more abundant in cities like Kahramanmaraş, Adıyaman, Bitlis and in the Black Sea region, especially in Kastamonu.
Around the main tuber of each plant, other small ones are born that are collected to make flour. The small cream-colored tubers are dug out of the ground, washed, and steeped in boiling water or milk to remove the bitter taste. They are left to dry for several days, either in the open air or by placing them in an oven. Once dry, they are stored or ground to obtain flour.
Salep flour contains sugars, starch, nitrogen, and is cream in color. It is also used to prepare traditional Turkish ice cream with an elastic texture and a particular flavor. Salep in winter is sold in pastry shops. This hot, sugary drink made with milk and salep flour is served with cinnamon. It is consumed especially in ski resorts such as Uludağ and Kartalkaya.
Other uses
Salep flour is highly nutritious and demulcent. It is used in special diets for convalescents and children. It is very rich in mucilage and forms a smooth, demulcent gel that is used for irritated gastrointestinal canals.
One part of flour with fifty parts of water are enough to form the gelatin. The tuber to prepare the flour must be collected when the plant is just dry after flowering and when the seeds have been released.
The harvesting of the tubers for salep production is seriously threatening the survival of many wild orchid species, especially in the Near East and Asia, where it is very popular.