9 of The Best Syrian Drinks – Essential Guide [2023]

There is an ongoing civil war, and people are afraid to visit the country, going to Syria is not just a fantastic option to support the brutally sanctioned nation. What is it that makes it great? The main reason is the people, however, Syrian food, as well as Syrian drink, are an important aspect of the package.

I’ll provide Syrian food and street food in a separate guide, however for the moment I will show you some of the best Syrian drinks! Some of the Syrian drinks are pretty delicious and surprising!

Are You Allowed To Drink Alcohol In Syria?

At the time that the majority of Syria was under the control of the Islamic State, you could not drink alcohol in the majority of Syria. Damascus nevertheless remained open and, even as ISIS was knocking on the door, there are stories of Syrians drinking the night away amid shells hitting the old city.

No matter if you’re a fan of the Syrian regime or not, they are a secularist regime which means if you would like to have a drink while in Syria you can certainly. What options are available depends on the location you live in as well as the Christian populations drinking more frequently than Muslim ones.

The one exception is Old Damascus which has everything from bars, pubs drinking kiosks, and even one of my top bars anywhere in the world!

Is It Legal To Drink Alcohol In Syria?

Yes, you can. Syria makes its own beers, and wine, as well as Arak which is similar to Ouzo. The number of bars you can choose from will vary depending on the location you’re in. Damascus is a good example, with bars to die for, while the more modest Aleppo only has one Cheers bar Aleppo City

The Best Syrian Drinks

I’m likely to provide Syrian drinking culture in a separate article, however, in this article, we’ll concentrate on the top 9 Syrian drinks that are both non-alcoholic and alcoholic. Thus, the top Syrian drinks for 2022 appear in no particular order. ….

Syrian Tea

The tea, like the rest of the middle east, is a major affair for Syria as it is consumed in a hot tea glass, and does s not contain sugar and milk. It can cost anywhere between 20 and 30 cents, if even charged. There are many tea shops and it was the first beverage I had when I crossed the border between Lebanon towards Syria.Syrian Tea with lemon

Tea can also be found in various flavors like mint, for example, however, I prefer the traditional with sugar.

Syrian Spirit

Arak, also known as Arq is an anise-based liquor made by the distiller and consumed across all of the Levant, i.e. Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. It is unmixed and is a white liquor. However, the moment you consume Arak from Syria the liquor is mixed in water and distilled to make a white liquid that resembles milk.

Do not consume an alcoholic drink without water. Similar to Pernod or Ouzo, In reality, this is its drink and is available in all sizes and shapes. There’s nothing more Syrian than a meat platter, shisha, and arak in the evening.

Syrian Aryan

Doogh, Ayran, Dhalla daw, tan, or doogh is the official drinks that are consumed in Turkey as per Erdogan. It is among my favorite drinks anywhere in the world. I first discovered Aryan while in Albania which is also called Dhalla.

For more information about Dhalla, go below.

A sweet yogurt drink called Aryan is mildly savory, but not enough to be salty. It is a water and yogurt mixture. Syria makes its own Aryan, and it is available in bottles at almost every meal. Costs less than 50 cents. You can find large bottles at markets, and it’s hard to beat Syrian Shawarma.

Syrian Wine

Due to sanctions, it is unlikely that the country will make it the next big thing in the world of vino However, with the Syrian climate and being the cradle of Christendom it’s not a surprise to discover that Syrian wine is quite decent.

Costs differ depending on whether you purchase in a store or a bar, and there is a variety of white and red Syrian wines. A good rule of thumb is to spend around 20 dollars for a good bottle of Syrian red wine at the bar.

Many regions, especially Christian ones, produce their wine with sweetness and quality differing dramatically.

Syrian Cola

Okay, I’d like to explore one of my main fascinations at some point. Syria is an interesting country because, before the war, it was self-sufficient. The war has altered this however and destroyed it. they create their beverages.

There were two Syrian cokes I came across I found were Master Cola and Sinalco, Sinalco being slightly superior to Master Cola, which came in a little supermarket similar. In terms of colas that are home-grown, Sinalco Cola was not as excellent as Ize however it was better in comparison to North Korean coke.

It is interesting that however, while Pepsi is available, there isn’t Coca-Cola or Pepsi, both of which are readily available from Cuba in Cuba and North Korea. Syria is the sole nation in the world that does not have Coca-Cola which I’ve yet to locate.

Syrian Juices

Syria produces its fruit and has many varieties of citrus, including excellent oranges. Fresh orange juice can be squeezed from many places such as the avenues of Damascus to the rebel-held Bosra.

A very citrusy and tangy mix that is a perfect thirst watering drink.

Syrian Coffee

Although tea is the preferred beverage for most people, Syrian coffee is readily available all over the place from breakfast to roadside pit stops. The cost isn’t too high and is generally served in a strong espresso style with plenty of sugar.

Old Damascus has a range of coffee bars for those who are looking for something more elegant.

Syrian Beer

Syria does not just make its beer but also makes it affordable and tasty. Al-Shark (from Aleppo) and Barada (from Damascus) are the two most well-known brands. The production was briefly stopped due to the civil war but it is returning with a vengeance. Both are pale-type beers with strength ranging from 3 to 4%.

Other brands of beer comprise Afamia Beer of Syria and Arados Beer, both of which are post-war newcomers to the beer market. It is also amazing that we found Ukrainian beer, which is odd when you consider Russian-Syrian relations and the current conflict in Ukraine. Russia with Ukraine.

Fun fact Syria has been producing beer for around 5,000 years.

Syrian Water

Bottled water is readily available throughout Syria and is affordable and easily accessible. There are some areas in the countryside that have natural streams as well as freshwater. The civil war has significantly impacted the water supply which is estimated to be 40 % less than levels before the war.

Like other things, water is another aspect that makes Syrians smile and goes to work!

Last updated and verified on January 28th, 2023 by our editorial team.