Menengiç Coffee

What Is Menengiç Coffee?

Menengiç coffee is a traditional drink made from the small fruit of the menengiç tree (Pistacia terebinthus), which is roasted and crushed. Menengiç is also known as wild pistachio or “chitlik,” and is native to Southeastern Anatolian cuisine.

Despite the word “coffee” in its name, it is not made from coffee beans and is naturally caffeine-free. The roasted fruit is ground into an oily paste or powder, then usually cooked with milk to make a dark, nutty drink.

Menengiç Coffee Nutrition Facts

Because no verified nutrition dataset specific to Menengiç coffee, especially the milk-based drink, is available, no numerical values are provided here. The drink’s calories come largely from the milk used and the natural oils in the menengiç fruit.

What Are the Benefits of Menengiç Coffee?

Menengiç coffee is a caffeine-free drink traditionally consumed in Southeastern Anatolia; because it contains no caffeine, it may also be chosen in the evening. No direct health benefit is claimed.

This is general information; Menengiç coffee is a beverage, not a medical treatment.

How to Choose Menengiç Coffee

Quality Menengiç paste should be dark brown, oily and glossy, with a nutty aroma; powdered menengiç should have a strong aroma and no lumps.

• The paste should be dark, oily and glossy, with a nutty aroma.
• The powder should have a strong aroma and no lumps.
• Look for a “pure, additive-free menengiç” label.

How to Store Menengiç Coffee

Menengiç paste can be kept in a sealed container in the refrigerator for a few weeks; powdered menengiç can be kept for a long time in a sealed jar in a cool, dry place. Because the paste is oily, keeping it cool delays rancidity.

Using Menengiç Coffee in the Kitchen

Menengiç is consumed almost entirely as a hot drink, cooked with milk; in some regions, it is also made with water. Roasted menengiç is also used to add flavor to some desserts and baked goods.

How to Make Menengiç Coffee

Stir 1 or 2 spoonfuls of Menengiç paste or powder with one coffee cup (60 ml measure) of milk in a Turkish coffee pot. Cook over low heat until foamy, then serve hot as a dark, nutty drink.

Can Menengiç Coffee Be Made Without Milk?

Yes. In some regions it is also cooked with water, but the milk-based version is darker, creamier, and considered more traditional.

Recipes That Use Menengiç Coffee

Menengiç’s best-known uses include milk-based Menengiç coffee, other hot drinks made with menengiç, and some regional desserts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Menengiç coffee contain caffeine?

No. Menengiç coffee is made from menengiç fruit, not coffee beans, so it contains no caffeine.

What is menengiç?

Menengiç is the small fruit of a tree in the mastic family; it is also known as wild pistachio or “chitlik” and grows in Southeastern Anatolia.

Why is Menengiç coffee made with milk?

When combined with milk, the nutty, oily aroma of menengiç makes a dark, creamy, full-bodied drink; that is why it is traditionally cooked with milk.

Where is Menengiç coffee popular?

It is popular as a traditional hot drink in Southeastern Anatolia, especially in and around Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa.

How should Menengiç paste be stored?

Because of its oily texture, keeping it in a sealed container in the refrigerator delays rancidity; powdered menengiç keeps longer in a cool, dry place.

What does Menengiç coffee taste like?

It has a slightly sweet, earthy aroma reminiscent of hazelnuts and cocoa; cooked with milk, it makes a creamy, full-bodied drink.