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Ayran or airan (from Turkish ayran [1]) is a Turkish drink made of yoghurt and water, popular in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, and other parts of the Balkans, the Middle East, and Central Asia.[2] It is similar to Armenian tahn, Indian lassi, and Iranian doogh, though doogh can be naturally-carbonated. In Greece and Cyprus it is referred to as ariani (αριάνι).[3]

Ayran is a mixture of yoghurt, water, and sometimes salt. It is thought to have originated as a way of preserving yogurt by adding salt.

It can also be made with cucumber juice in place of some or all of the water, or flavored with garlic. Another recipe popular in some regions includes finely chopped mint leaves mixed into the ayran. In countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina ayran may be heavily salted. In Turkey cucumber is cut into very small pieces and added to ayran or diluted yogurt with garlic to make cacık.

Ayran is so popular among Turkish people that it rivals the sales of the juice and soda industries. International fast-food companies, such as McDonald's, include Ayran in their standard menu. In Azerbaijan, Iran, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, it is available in most restaurants and fast-food shops. In other countries, it may be found at döner kebab outlets. In the United States, it is available in Turkish, Persian, Armenian and other Middle Eastern stores under the names ayran, doogh, or tahn.

In rural areas of Turkey, ayran is offered as a standard drink to welcome guests.

Ayran is served cool, and is a common accompaniment to döner, kebab, banitsa, gözleme, or pastry. Some forms of fresh ayran are foamy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayran