When temperatures rise, most people associate saffron with warm rice dishes or pastries. However, the red gold has a long history as a summer drink. For centuries, Sharbat has been drunk in Persia, a refreshing cold drink made from water, sugar, fruits or flowers, often refined with a few threads of saffron. It is precisely this tradition that we are bringing to the glass today, reinterpreted as iced tea, Hugo, and a long drink.
What exactly is Sharbat?
Sharbat is the ancestor of many summer drinks. Long before lemonade or iced tea existed, people in Persia and the Orient cooled themselves with these aromatic cold drinks. A nice detail to note: the word Sharbat is linguistically embedded in our terms sorbet and syrup. This shows how far this drinking culture has traveled over the centuries.
The most important trick: the saffron infusion
Saffron only slowly releases its color and aroma, hardly at all in cold liquid. Therefore, the most important tip beforehand: never throw threads directly into a cold glass. Instead, prepare a saffron infusion, which is the base for all three drinks.
- 5 to 7 threads of saffron
- 3 tbsp warm (not boiling) water
- Let steep for 15 to 20 minutes until the liquid is golden yellow
Tip: If you like, grind the threads beforehand with a pinch of sugar in a mortar. This releases even more aroma.
1. Saffron Iced Tea (non-alcoholic)
The relaxed classic for hot afternoons.
For one carafe:
- 1 L cold green tea
- 2 to 3 tbsp saffron infusion
- Juice of half a lemon or lime
- Honey or sugar to taste
- Ice cubes and fresh mint
Stir the tea with saffron infusion, lemon, and honey, chill well, and serve with plenty of ice and mint.
2. Saffron Hugo
The favorite aperitif gets a golden touch.
For one glass:
- 100 ml Prosecco or sparkling wine
- 2 cl elderflower syrup
- 1 tsp saffron infusion
- A splash of soda
- Lime, fresh mint, ice
Add ice to the glass, then elderflower syrup and saffron infusion, top with Prosecco, add a splash of soda, and garnish with lime and mint.
3. Saffron Long Drink
Clear, elegant, and with a delicate aroma.
For one glass:
- 4 cl gin or vodka
- 1 tsp saffron infusion
- Tonic water
- Ice, plus lemon zest or a sprig of rosemary
Pour gin and saffron infusion over ice, top with tonic, and garnish with zest or rosemary. The saffron gives the drink a warm, golden color and a fine, slightly honeyed note.
A small note on dosage
High-quality saffron is intense; less is more here. With a few threads per glass, you’ll get the full aroma without it becoming bitter.
Whether non-alcoholic or as an aperitif: saffron turns a simple summer drink into something special, with color, aroma, and a history stretching back over a thousand years. Cheers, or as they say in Persia: Noosh-e jan.
--> You can find the right saffron for your summer drinks in our shop.
