Since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, alcohol has been illegal in Iran even though wine has a prominent role in ancient Persian culture. So alcohol won’t be served at hotels, restaurants, or cafes (and there are no bars in Iran. At least not legal ones). But due to the prohibition of alcohol, there are plenty of options in the black market. But we do warn you about that because there are so many fake alcohols like methanol and isopropanol that cause serious health problems. A safe option would be to drink the alcohol that some Iranian families make at home for personal use; though you probably won’t find many such families and you’d better not ask them until they offer you themselves.
It is good to know that, it is not that no Iranian drink alcohol. There are parties at which alcohol is served. First things first, local people know how to disobey the law and yet not get caught. Besides, it is not worth all the stress and troubles if you are not so familiar with the culture and do not know trusty locals.
Despite all the laws prohibiting alcohol in Iran, it is not that strange to be offered with some alcohol since people are aware of foreigners drinking alcohol on almost a routine basis. Well, the truth is there are some illegal sources producing alcohol in Iran. Especially some local people produce it in their home. There are mainly home-made and a few of them are contraband. So, no wonder if you are offered some famous beer and wine brands!
We suggest you avoid such drinks as much as possible because of two reasons. First of all, for the factory-made drinks, it would be hard to discriminate between original and fake ones unless you are a professional drinker. Besides, for the home-made drinks, the risks of getting poisoned are so high since being even a bit careless during the brewing process, it can cause huge health issues. Some of these products contain methanol and isopropanol that can bring about serious problems like drowsiness, nausea, vomiting, and permanent blindness. And thieves since surveillance is only available in official taxis.
You might have heard that it is legal to serve alcohol for tourists in the hotels. That is just a promising myth and the truth is far behind that. There have been times that a few hotels were or are serving alcohol but the moment the government found about it, they were sealed for at least a couple of months. So no raising hope for this case!
Despite all the alcohol you might miss visiting Iran, you have a wide range of options to pick from during your journey in Iran. You can either brew them yourself or have them at cafes and traditional restaurants.
Chai (tea): The original Persian Tea or as it is called in Persian, Chai, is one of the things you must try. It is the national drink and on average, people drink tea two times a day. Having a cup of tea during your visit to traditional Persian houses and beautiful mountains can be quite an experience. The north of Iran has famous teas where you must try and even buy for your loved ones. It definitely makes a perfect souvenir. You can find tea almost everywhere. It is good to know that there are also traditional tea houses that serve different types of tea.
Delicious Sharbats in Iran
Sharbat: It is one of the main kinds of cold beverages that people usually drink during summer. Based on your taste and body, there are various types of Sharbat with delicious flavors. Sekanjebin, Khakshir, Saffron (“Zaferan” in Persian), Gol Mohammadi (= rose water), Bahar Naranj (= bitter orange), Khakshir, and Bidmeshk are some of innumerable delicious Persian Sharbats. Our suggestion to you is a yummy Khakshir during the hot summers.
Delicious Sharbats in Iran
Damnoosh (Herbal Drinks): Iranians brew various kinds of herbs as a hot beverage called Damnoosh. It is used typically in winters and at nights. In Iran, Damnoshes have so many medical benefits for people depending on their health problems and their temper, they can choose various types of Damnoosh. Bahar Narnej, Baboune, Behlimoo, Gole Gav Zaboon, and Ostokhodus are only a few of Damnoosh you can find in Iran. If you are so stressed, why not try a cup of Gole Gav Zabun before sleeping?
Dough: Doogh mainly consists of yogurt, cold water, and herbs like mint. The dough is typically served with the dish at lunch or dinner especially with Kebab and Dizi. It has a sour taste and it makes you sleepy like alcohol. As a result, if you need to do something carefully or you need to stay up late, we recommend not drinking Dough before such occasions.
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