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Top 10 · Food and culture
The ten Egyptian drinks to try are sweet tea, karkade, Egyptian coffee, sugarcane juice, fresh fruit juice, sahlab, tamr hindi, sobia, amar el-din and kharoub. Tea and coffee are everywhere, all day. The juices come from street stands. Four of the ten are Ramadan favourites, served cold when the fast breaks. Beer and wine are a separate story, covered at the end.
These are the drinks Egyptians actually order, at home, in coffee houses and at street stands. We left out soft drinks you can buy anywhere in the world.
There is no ranking by taste. We start with the everyday drinks and end with the Ramadan ones. For the Ramadan drinks we used Egyptian food writing. We repeat no health claims, because we could not check them.
Alcohol is not on the list, because most local places do not serve it. The FAQs explain where you can have a beer.
Shai is strong black tea, served in a small glass, usually sweet. Fresh mint is often added. Egyptians drink it before and after meals, at work and with guests.
You will be offered tea in shops and bazaars. Accepting a glass does not mean you have to buy anything. Ask for it with less sugar if you prefer.
Karkade is made from dried hibiscus flowers steeped in water and sweetened. It is deep red and a little tart. It comes hot in winter and iced in summer.
It is an everyday drink, served in homes, shops and cafes. Try it both ways, because hot and iced karkade taste quite different.
Egyptian coffee is finely ground, boiled in a small pot and poured with the grounds into a little cup. Let it settle before you sip. Stop before you reach the bottom.
You order by sugar: sada is plain, mazbout has a little, ziyada has more. The traditional coffee house is also called an ahwa. People sit there for hours over coffee, tea and a shisha pipe.
Asab is juice pressed from sugarcane while you wait. It is pale green and frothy, sweet and very cold. Juice shops feed the canes through a press at the counter.
It is a street drink and very cheap. A busy shop is the best choice, because the canes and the press are in constant use.
Juice stands press whatever is in season. Mango, guava and orange are the classics. Lemon blended with fresh mint is a common order on a hot day.
Juices are thick, sweet and often cheap. The usual worry is ice and rinsed fruit. If your stomach is new to Egypt, ask for no ice.
Sahlab is hot milk thickened into a smooth, creamy drink. It is topped with cinnamon, nuts and sometimes coconut or raisins.
It is a winter drink, so you are most likely to find it in the cooler months. Coffee houses and dessert cafes serve it.
Tamr hindi is a chilled drink made from tamarind, water and sugar. It is dark brown, sweet and sour at once.
It is a classic at iftar, the meal that breaks the fast in Ramadan. Juice shops sell it all year, by the glass or the bottle.
Sobia is a sweet, milky drink made with rice, milk, coconut milk, sugar and vanilla, then chilled and strained. It is pale white and very smooth.
Children and adults both love it, and it sells fastest in Ramadan. Some Cairo cafes now mix it with espresso.
Amar el-din is made from sheets of dried apricot, soaked in water and sweetened. The result is a thick, bright orange drink, served cold.
Many families open the evening meal with it during Ramadan. In 2027 Ramadan is expected from about 8 February to 9 March.
Kharoub is made from carob pods, water and sugar, and served chilled. It is dark and thicker than most juices.
It is another Ramadan favourite. It is filling, so a small glass is enough.
Sweet black tea, shai, is the drink of daily life. Karkade, made from hibiscus, is the one most linked to Egypt for visitors. Both are cheap and served everywhere.
Yes, in licensed hotels, Nile boats, bars and some restaurants. Ordinary cafes and coffee houses do not sell it. Local beer is the cheap choice, and Stella is the best-known local brand. Our alcohol guide covers the rules and where you can drink.
No. Drink bottled water, which is sold everywhere and costs little. Ice is usually fine in hotels and busy restaurants. Skip it at carts and small juice stands.
Often, if the stand is busy and you skip the ice. Sugarcane juice pressed in front of you is usually fine. Our Egyptian food page has more advice on eating and drinking safely.
Cold drinks at iftar, the meal at sunset. Amar el-din, tamr hindi, sobia, kharoub and karkade are the classics. In 2027 Ramadan is expected from about 8 February to 9 March.
Ask for ahwa and say how sweet you want it. Sada means no sugar, mazbout a little and ziyada a lot. Let the grounds settle before you drink.
Fresh juice, lemon with mint, bottled water or a soft drink. Tea usually comes after the meal. Most local restaurants serve no alcohol, so save a beer for your hotel or boat.
Entry rules, opening hours, security advice and exchange rates all move. Check them at the source, not here.
Written and checked by the Nile Trip Guide editorial team · Last reviewed . Entry rules, prices and opening hours change — check anything critical against the official sources linked on this page.
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