Jamshid's Cup
Apple brandy, pomegranate and bubbles, for the king who gave Iran Nowruz.
Ingredients
| Ingredient | ml | oz |
|---|---|---|
| Apple brandy (Calvados) | 30 ml | 1 oz |
| Fresh pomegranate juice · homemade, J07 | 20 ml | ⅔ oz |
| Pomegranate syrup · homemade, P09 | 10 ml | ⅓ oz |
| Fresh lemon juice · homemade, J01 | 10 ml | ⅓ oz |
| Chilled brut cava or other dry sparkling wine | 60 ml | 2 oz |
Ounces are rounded; measure in ml for accuracy. Homemade items link to their own page.
large flute or white-wine glass
shaken with ice, served without ice
thin apple slice
The story
Persepolis is called Takht-e Jamshid, “the throne of Jamshid,” after the legendary king of the Shahnameh. Legend credits Jamshid with founding Nowruz, the Persian New Year, and with discovering wine, when grapes stored in his palace jars turned into something unexpected. His magical cup, the jam-e jam, was said to show the whole world. This sparkling drink is made for celebrations, and its apple garnish nods to the sib, the apple of the Nowruz haft-sin table.
Method
- Shake the brandy, pomegranate juice, syrup and lemon with ice for 10 seconds.
- Strain into a chilled flute or wine glass.
- Gently top with the sparkling wine. Never shake the bubbles.
- Garnish with a thin apple slice.
How it tastes
Dry and lively. Apple brandy’s orchard warmth, ruby pomegranate and fine bubbles.
Persian taste: malas (sweet-sour)
Pair it with
- Food: Sabzi polo ba mahi, herbed rice with fish, the traditional Nowruz meal.
- Sweet: Nan-e nokhodchi, chickpea-flour cookies baked for Nowruz.
- Snack: Pomegranate seeds with golpar and salt
Variations
Yalda cup
Use the winter-spiced version of P09 for a December celebration.
Brandy cup
Use cognac instead of Calvados.
Alcohol-free
40 ml pomegranate juice, 10 ml pomegranate syrup, 10 ml lemon, topped with sparkling apple juice or soda.
Balancing tips
- Check the glass size; the sparkling wine should fill it without overflowing.
- If the drink is too tart, add 5 ml more pomegranate syrup.
Allergens
- Sulfites (sparkling wine)
- Contains alcohol. Please drink responsibly.
Development notes
- Status: draft recipe, not yet taste-tested.
- Confirm final glass capacity, acidity, sweetness and carbonation.
Watch it mixed
Follow along
Steps light up as the animation plays. Tap a step to jump to it.
Heads-up: this animation was rendered from an earlier draft, so the amounts on screen differ slightly. Follow the ingredient table above.
Fars (Persepolis), imagined
