Saaghi ساقی The Persian Home Bar
An imagined scene from The Caspian
Chapter 7 of 10 · 8 drinks

The Caspian

کرانه‌های خزر

Rain, tea gardens, olives and herbs. Green, bright and misty, from Rudbar to Lahijan.

Backdrop and props for this chapter: misty dark green, wood, fresh leaves.

The drinks

8 cocktails

Rudbar Olive illustrated card

Rudbar Olive

زیتون رودبار
A dry, savory martini with Gilan's famous marinated olives.
 Gilan Green illustrated card

Gilan Green

سبز گیلان
Sour plum, verjuice and fresh herbs, Gilan's love of sour in a long glass.
 Lahijan Mist illustrated card

Lahijan Mist

مه لاهیجان
A hot tea toddy with brandy, honey and cardamom, for misty evenings.
 Mazandaran Grove illustrated card

Mazandaran Grove

نارنجستان مازندران
Bitter orange and pistachio from the citrus groves between mountain and sea.
 Tirgan illustrated card

Tirgan

تیرگان
Rosé, watermelon and a splash of water, for the midsummer festival of rain.
 Gavzaban Twilight illustrated card

Gavzaban Twilight

شفق گاوزبان
Violet in the glass, pink when the lemon goes in. The Caspian's calming tea, with gin.
 Sabzi Khordan illustrated card

Sabzi Khordan

سبزی‌خوردن
The herb plate in a glass: aragh, a cordial of tarragon, basil and mint, and fresh lime, with a radish on top.
 Tameshk illustrated card

Tameshk

تمشک
Wild blackberries and purple basil from the Caspian forests, muddled with aragh, honey and lime over crushed ice.
Pantry for this chapter

What you'll make first

All syrups & preparations
Syrup

Pistachio Orgeat

شربت پسته
nut syrup · Kerman (Rafsanjan)
Used in 5 drinks
Syrup

Honey Syrup

شربت عسل
honey syrup · Ardabil (Mount Sabalan) and Iran's mountains
Used in 6 drinks
Syrup

Sour Plum Cordial

شربت آلوچه
fruit cordial · Tehran (Darband) and Gilan
Used in 3 drinks
Preparation

Persian Black Tea for Drinks

چای ایرانی
tea · Gilan (Lahijan)
Used in 2 drinks
Juice

Fresh Lemon and Lime Juice

آب لیمو تازه
fresh juice · across Iran
Used in 44 drinks
Juice

Fresh Watermelon Juice

آب هندوانه
fresh juice · across Iran
Used in 2 drinks
Juice

Bitter Orange Juice

آب نارنج
fresh juice · Mazandaran, Gilan and Shiraz
Used in 1 drink
Garnish

Zeytun Parvardeh (Marinated Olives)

زیتون پرورده
garnish · Gilan (Rudbar)
Used in 2 drinks
Preparation

Borage-Flower Infusion (Gol Gavzaban)

دم‌کردهٔ گل گاوزبان
infusion (unsweetened) · Gilan and Mazandaran foothills
Used in 1 drink
Syrup

Sabzi Khordan Cordial (Tarragon, Basil and Mint)

شربت سبزی‌خوردن
herb cordial · Gilan and every Iranian table
Used in 1 drink