sarbat

Sarbat is a traditional non-alcoholic beverage popular in the Indian subcontinent and parts of the Middle East. It is usually a sweet, flavored drink made from fruit juice or concentrate, sugar, and water, often with aromatic additives. The term derives from the Persian sharbat, meaning a drink; regional spellings include sarbat and sharbat, with sherbet used in English in some areas.

Common flavors include rose, lemon, mint, mango, saffron, and cardamom. Variants are found across India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran, ranging from cooling rose and lemon drinks to spiced mint or mango blends. In hot seasons these beverages are widely sold by street vendors and prepared in homes for hospitality or festive occasions.

Preparation typically involves making a sugar syrup, then combining it with fruit juice or concentrate. Flavorings such as rose water, lemon juice, mint, saffron, or cardamom are added, and the mixture is chilled. The drink is usually served over ice, sometimes diluted with cold water or milk. Some versions are used as a base for falooda, a dessert-drink pairing.

Cultural role: Sarbat is associated with refreshment in hot climates and with hospitality in South Asia. It differs from Western sherbet primarily in regional usage; in English, sherbet can refer to a frozen dessert, whereas sarbat or sharbat refers to a beverage.