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Türkiye: Local drinks and tea

In Türkiye tea is part of daily life. During treatment it is important to know which drinks are safer.

Last updated: ~1 min read
On a dark navy background, a tulip glass and a double teapot.
Figure 1.Turkish tea — Türkiye: Local drinks and tea

01Short answer

Black tea brewed with boiling water and Turkish coffee are usually considered safe, though caffeine can affect sleep and the stomach. Choose pasteurised ayran, milk and juices in factory packaging. Home-made or village ayran, şalgam, boza and other unpasteurised or fermented drinks, street-squeezed fresh juices and drinks with ice can be risky during neutropenia. Salep is made with hot, boiled milk. For water see chapter “Turkey: Water”, and choose sealed bottled water.

02Simple explanation

Tea: with boiling water.

Packaged: pasteurised.

Street juice: risky.

03Scientific explanation

Water: the WHO stresses safe drinking water and ice.

Juice: the FDA advises people with weakened immunity to avoid unpasteurised juice.

04What happens in the body?

Tea culture

Tea from a çaydanlık is brewed with boiling water; drink from a clean glass.

Ayran and milk

Choose sealed factory packs with a checked date.

On a dark navy background, sealed ayran cups and a water bottle.
Figure 2.Sealed drinks — Türkiye: Local drinks and tea

Street drinks

Avoid fresh-squeezed juice and drinks with ice during neutropenia.

On a dark navy background, a juice stand behind a translucent line.
Figure 3.Street juice — Türkiye: Local drinks and tea

05Choosing drinks

Four rules.

Hot — Tea and coffee.1HotTea and coffee.
Sealed — Factory packaging.2SealedFactory packaging.
Pasteurised — Ayran, milk, juice.3PasteurisedAyran, milk, juice.
Enough — Drink through the day.4EnoughDrink through the day.
TraditionTea stays.
SafetyPasteurised drinks.

06Key points at a glance

TopicIn brief
Tea cultureTea from a çaydanlık is brewed with boiling water; drink from a clean glass.
Ayran and milkChoose sealed factory packs with a checked date.
Street drinksAvoid fresh-squeezed juice and drinks with ice during neutropenia.

07Key terms

Çaydanlık
Double teapot.
Ayran
Ayran.
Şalgam
Fermented turnip juice.
Salep
Salep.

08Key points

  • Brew with boiling water.
  • Ayran in sealed packs.
  • No street juice.
  • Avoid ice.
  • Ask about herbal tea.

09Frequently asked questions

How much tea a day?

Your team gives personal advice; caffeine affects sleep and the stomach.

Can I drink şalgam?

It is usually unpasteurised; ask your team during neutropenia.

Boza?

It is a fermented drink; ask your team.

10Questions for your doctor

Take these questions to your appointment. The ones you save are collected on the “My questions” page and stay on this device only.

  1. How much tea a day?

  2. Can I drink şalgam?

  3. Boza?

My questions

12Sources

  1. World Health Organization (WHO). Five keys to safer food
  2. FoodSafety.gov (U.S.). Food Safety for People with Cancer
  3. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Food Safety for Older Adults and People with Cancer, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Organ Transplants, and Autoimmune Diseases
  4. World Health Organization (WHO). Drinking-water — fact sheet
  5. AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis. Hematology and bone marrow transplant department (in French)
  6. Institut Paoli-Calmettes. Acute myeloid leukemia (in French)
  7. The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. Haemato-oncology Unit
  8. Great Ormond Street Hospital, International and Private Care. Bone Marrow Transplant
  9. Catholic Hematology Hospital, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital. Introduction
  10. Asan Medical Center. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Medical disclaimerThis information is for educational purposes only and does not replace medical advice.
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