Have you ever taken a big swig of a drink expecting to taste one thing, but getting another?

I have.

Here’s what happened:

I was little. I woke up in the middle of the night, crazy thirsty, and wandered blind into the kitchen to get a drink of water. Because we bottled our own spring water from Cape Cod, there was a lot of it – all stored on the side of the fridge in jugs. I felt my hand over the top of one and hoisted it up. I took several giant gulps before I realized it was most certainly not water. Nope. It was apple cider vinegar. My throat burned. I sweat. I shook. Then, I sweat some more.  I’ll always blame that moment as to why I have an immunity to vinegar. The more the better.

Even though the story turned out well for me, I don’t want you to burn, sweat, or shake.

Nope.

I want you to know what you are in for with doogh.

#1 It looks like a smoothie, but this is not a sweet drink

#2 It looks creamy, but this is not a thick drink

#3 It looks flat, but this is a fizzy drink

Now that you know the basics, you can enjoy this Middle Eastern drink without flinching. When you take your first sip, you won’t be alarmed. You’ll know not to expect a sweet smoothie. Instead, you’ll buckle down for a minty, bubbly, sour, often peppery drink instead. And you just might smile.

To make Doogh, simply mix together:

1 cup Greek-style yogurt
2 cups (16 oz) chilled sparkling water or club soda
1 tsp dried mint
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper (optional)

That’s it! This popular Middle Eastern drink is super easy to make and will keep you cool and refreshed on a hot summer’s day.

Would you drink it?

Recipe adapted from The Silk Road Gourmet by Laura Kelley. You can find more recipes and fascinating history on her blog Silk Road Gourmet.