The Journey of the Basil Plant to Syrup

Citizens in Gaziantep, feeling overwhelmed by the hot weather, cool off by drinking reyhan sherbet, a natural beverage. Reyhan sherbet, produced in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions and typically made by mixing the leaves of the reyhan plant specific to the Gaziantep region with powdered sugar, cloves, lemon, and cinnamon sticks, is attracting great interest from the public. Known as the indispensable and traditional drink of the summer months, reyhan sherbet is also recognized for its health benefits such as relieving anxiety and being good for the eyes and stomach. Those who drink and highly appreciate the reyhan sherbet, which is a favorite of the Gaziantep region, recommend it to others by saying, ‘Everyone who hasn’t tasted this delicious beverage should try it as soon as possible.’
We recommend reyhan sherbet instead of carbonated beverages. Yusuf Pektaş, mentioning that they recommend reyhan sherbet to customers due to its traditional and refreshing nature instead of carbonated beverages, stated, ‘Reyhan sherbet is the indispensable natural drink of the summer months. We recommend it to all our guests. Since it is currently the season and time for reyhan plant, we collect fresh reyhan leaves and make our own beverage. We recommend reyhan sherbet to our customers who come here instead of carbonated beverages, and everyone who tries it enjoys it.’
‘We sell 100 glasses a day at 45 TL per glass.’ Pektaş, explaining the production process of the sherbet, stated that they sell 100 glasses per day due to high demand. Pektaş said, ‘Reyhan sherbet includes sugar, lemon, cinnamon, and cloves. When preparing reyhan sherbet, we put reyhan leaves in a pot. We add powdered sugar, cloves, lemon, and cinnamon sticks on top. Then we add hot water, the sugar we pour on top dissolves, we let it rest until the color and taste of the reyhan plant pass into the water, and we serve it cold in a glass with ice after a while. Therefore, we encounter intense interest from citizens due to the oppressive heat in the air. We sell 100 glasses a day. We serve it at 45 TL per glass.’
‘Everyone should try it as soon as possible.’ Mahmut Mecid, who drank reyhan sherbet upon recommendation, stated that the most delicious sherbet is reyhan sherbet. Mecid said, ‘The weather is very hot, and my friend and I were looking for something to cool off. They recommended reyhan sherbet. They said it’s a natural beverage. I was expecting it to be sweeter when it comes to sherbet, but it doesn’t taste like that at all. The cinnamon in it adds a different touch. I am a person who normally drinks coffee, and despite trying many sherbets, I think the most delicious one among them is reyhan sherbet. I’m currently on my second glass. Everyone should try reyhan sherbet as soon as possible.’
‘Both natural and refreshing.’ Kadir Yaşar, recommending it to everyone due to its natural and refreshing qualities, said, ‘The weather is very hot. It’s the best cooling sherbet I’ve ever had. Reyhan sherbet is one of the most reasonable beverages to drink in this weather because it has a natural and refreshing feeling. I really liked it. I recommend it to everyone.’