Şalgam

Şalgam, properly şalgam suyu (turnip juice), is a deep red-purple, sour and salty fermented drink from the Çukurova region of southern Turkey, centred on Adana. Despite the name it is built mainly on black or purple carrots rather than turnip, soured by lactic-acid fermentation in brine with ground bulgur or cracked wheat, rock salt and the aromatic turnip (çelem) that lends its name. The result is tart, briny and faintly earthy, served ice-cold and famously poured beside rakı, whose aniseed strength it cuts. It is non-alcoholic, and comes mild or hot (acılı), the latter spiked with chilli for a peppery bite.