Moroccan · Drink
Sahlab (Warm Orchid Milk Drink)
A thick, warming milk drink thickened traditionally with sahlab (orchid root) powder, sweetened and scented with orange-flower water and cinnamon, then topped with nuts and coconut. Sipped on cold Moroccan winter evenings, it's cosy, creamy and comforting — like drinking a light milk pudding.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 15 min
- Serves
- 3
- Level
- Easy
Ingredients
- 700 ml milk
- 2 tbsp sahlab powder (or 1 tbsp cornflour as substitute)
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp orange-flower water
- Cinnamon, to dust
- Chopped pistachios and desiccated coconut, to top
Method
- 1
Slurry
Whisk the sahlab (or cornflour) with a little cold milk to a smooth paste.
- 2
Heat
Warm the rest of the milk with the sugar until steaming.
- 3
Thicken
Whisk in the slurry and cook gently, stirring, until thick and creamy.
- 4
Flavour
Stir in the orange-flower water off the heat.
- 5
Pour
Pour into cups or glasses.
- 6
Top
Dust with cinnamon and scatter with pistachios and coconut.
Chef's tips
- Whisk constantly as it thickens to keep it lump-free.
- Real sahlab is hard to find; cornflour gives a good, if lighter, approximation.
- Serve it hot and freshly made — it thickens further as it cools.
Frequently asked questions
What is sahlab?
Sahlab is a starchy powder milled from the tubers of certain wild orchids, used across the Middle East and North Africa to thicken a warm, sweet milk drink of the same name.
What can I use instead?
Cornflour is the usual home substitute — it thickens the milk similarly, though without sahlab's subtle flavour. The orange-flower water and cinnamon carry the drink.