What to drink when

Iran's calendar runs on harvests and festivals. Saffron is picked in November, roses in May, pomegranates arrive just in time for Yalda. Pick a month, or start with what is in season right now.

January

Harvest time

Bitter oranges نارنج

Mazandaran and Gilan. The Caspian winter citrus, squeezed over fish and into drinks.

Sweet lemons لیمو شیرین

across Iran. Mild, floral winter citrus; drink the juice within minutes.

Laboo (winter beets) لبو

Tehran street carts. Steamed whole for hours and sold hot with golpar on winter nights.

Blood oranges پرتقال خونی

Dezful and the Khuzestan groves. The reddest fruit comes after the cold nights of January.

The Caspian

Mazandaran Grove

نارنجستان مازندران

Bitter orange and pistachio from the citrus groves between mountain and sea.

Fars

Jahrom Golden Grove

باغ زرین جهرم

Dates, ardeh and orange. A silky citrus sour from Jahrom's orchards.

All of Iran

Rose & Nightingale

گل و بلبل

Cherry, sweet lemon and rose, the lovers of Persian poetry.

Tehran & the Alborz

Laboo Foroosh

لبوفروش

Tehran's winter street beet in a coupe: aragh, roasted-beet and golpar syrup, lemon, and a golpar-salt rim.

Persian Gulf & Khuzestan

Shushtar Mills

آسیاب‌های شوشتر

Blood orange, saffron, coriander and a slice of chili shaken with vodka: Khuzestan's bright, hot, sweet south in a glass.

February

Harvest time

Bitter oranges نارنج

Mazandaran and Gilan. The Caspian winter citrus, squeezed over fish and into drinks.

Sweet lemons لیمو شیرین

across Iran. Mild, floral winter citrus; drink the juice within minutes.

Laboo (winter beets) لبو

Tehran street carts. Steamed whole for hours and sold hot with golpar on winter nights.

Blood oranges پرتقال خونی

Dezful and the Khuzestan groves. The reddest fruit comes after the cold nights of January.

The Caspian

Mazandaran Grove

نارنجستان مازندران

Bitter orange and pistachio from the citrus groves between mountain and sea.

Fars

Jahrom Golden Grove

باغ زرین جهرم

Dates, ardeh and orange. A silky citrus sour from Jahrom's orchards.

All of Iran

Rose & Nightingale

گل و بلبل

Cherry, sweet lemon and rose, the lovers of Persian poetry.

Tehran & the Alborz

Laboo Foroosh

لبوفروش

Tehran's winter street beet in a coupe: aragh, roasted-beet and golpar syrup, lemon, and a golpar-salt rim.

Persian Gulf & Khuzestan

Shushtar Mills

آسیاب‌های شوشتر

Blood orange, saffron, coriander and a slice of chili shaken with vodka: Khuzestan's bright, hot, sweet south in a glass.

March

Nowruz · Chaharshanbe Suri

20–21 March

Nowruz نوروز

The Persian New Year at the spring equinox. Thirteen days of visits, sabzeh on the table and the first green things of the year.

orange blossomgreen plums (goje sabz)fresh herbsrhubarb

last Tuesday night before Nowruz

Chaharshanbe Suri چهارشنبه‌سوری

Fire-jumping night before the new year. Ajil, noise and smoke in the streets.

mixed nuts (ajil)dried fruitsmoke

Bitter oranges نارنج

Mazandaran and Gilan. The Caspian winter citrus, squeezed over fish and into drinks.

Sweet lemons لیمو شیرین

across Iran. Mild, floral winter citrus; drink the juice within minutes.

Orange blossom بهارنارنج

Shiraz and Mazandaran. For two weeks in spring the whole city of Shiraz smells of it.

Blood oranges پرتقال خونی

Dezful and the Khuzestan groves. The reddest fruit comes after the cold nights of January.

Fars

Shiraz Spring

بهار شیراز

Orange blossom and elderflower, for the city of poets in bloom.

The Caspian

Gilan Green

سبز گیلان

Sour plum, verjuice and fresh herbs, Gilan's love of sour in a long glass.

All of Iran

Persian Garden

باغ ایرانی

Sekanjebin, cucumber and mint, a summer afternoon in the garden.

Azerbaijan

Urmia Blossom

شکوفهٔ ارومیه

Apple and willow blossom, the first scent of spring by the lake.

All of Iran

Haft Sin

هفت‌سین

Four of the seven on the Nowruz table, back together with the wine.

The Caspian

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.

Isfahan & the heartland

Chehel Giah

چهل‌گیاه

Gin, a cordial of Kashan's herb waters, sour cherry and lime, with a rosebud on top.

Isfahan & the heartland

Saveh Smoke

انار دودی ساوه

Pomegranate and a whisper of peat smoke, from the town of pomegranates.

April

Sizdah Bedar

1–2 April

Sizdah Bedar سیزده‌به‌در

Day thirteen of Nowruz, spent outdoors: picnics, knotted grass, lettuce dipped in sekanjebin.

mintcucumbersekanjebinrhubarb

Orange blossom بهارنارنج

Shiraz and Mazandaran. For two weeks in spring the whole city of Shiraz smells of it.

Rhubarb (rivas) ریواس

Kurdistan, Alborz foothills. Wild mountain rhubarb, sour and pink, sold from roadside baskets in spring.

Green plums (goje sabz) گوجه سبز

across Iran. Crunchy, sour and eaten with salt. The taste of late spring.

All of Iran

Persian Garden

باغ ایرانی

Sekanjebin, cucumber and mint, a summer afternoon in the garden.

Zagros & Kurdistan

Zagros Meadow

مرغزار زاگرس

Gin, doogh, cucumber and wild mint, as the nomads drink it.

Zagros & Kurdistan

Hawraman Rivas

ریواس هورامان

Wild rhubarb, mint and honey, the first sour taste of a Kurdish spring.

Fars

Meymand Julep

گلاب میمند

The julep goes home: bourbon, mint sekanjebin and a drop of rose water over crushed ice.

Zagros & Kurdistan

Shirazi Avishan Smash

اسمش آویشن شیرازی

Wild thyme from the hills above Shiraz, honey, lemon and mint on crushed ice.

Tehran & the Alborz

Sizdah Bedar

سیزده‌به‌در

Sekanjebin the way Iran eats it, with lettuce for dipping: aragh, mint, cucumber and a splash of verjuice, tall and cold.

Fars

Shiraz Spring

بهار شیراز

Orange blossom and elderflower, for the city of poets in bloom.

All of Iran

Yalda

یلدا

Pomegranate and orange blossom for the longest night of the year.

May

Harvest time

Rose harvest (golab-giri) گلاب‌گیری

Kashan: Qamsar, Niasar; Meymand in Fars. Damask roses are picked at dawn in May and distilled the same day.

Rhubarb (rivas) ریواس

Kurdistan, Alborz foothills. Wild mountain rhubarb, sour and pink, sold from roadside baskets in spring.

Green plums (goje sabz) گوجه سبز

across Iran. Crunchy, sour and eaten with salt. The taste of late spring.

Tea harvest برداشت چای

Lahijan, Gilan. Three pickings a year on the green hills above the Caspian.

Isfahan & the heartland

Qamsar Rose

گلستان قمصر

Damask rose and peach, from the valley of rose water.

All of Iran

Rose & Nightingale

گل و بلبل

Cherry, sweet lemon and rose, the lovers of Persian poetry.

Khorasan & the East

Neyshabur Vesper

وسپر نیشابور

For Omar Khayyam, poet of the wine cup.

Fars

Meymand Julep

گلاب میمند

The julep goes home: bourbon, mint sekanjebin and a drop of rose water over crushed ice.

Isfahan & the heartland

Chehel Giah

چهل‌گیاه

Gin, a cordial of Kashan's herb waters, sour cherry and lime, with a rosebud on top.

Zagros & Kurdistan

Hawraman Rivas

ریواس هورامان

Wild rhubarb, mint and honey, the first sour taste of a Kurdish spring.

The Caspian

Gilan Green

سبز گیلان

Sour plum, verjuice and fresh herbs, Gilan's love of sour in a long glass.

Tehran & the Alborz

Darband Evening

عصر دربند

Sour plum, tea and a pinch of salt, an evening walk up the mountain.

June

Harvest time

Melons and watermelon خربزه و هندوانه

Sistan, Khorasan, Khuzestan. Summer in a slice. Chilled, salted, juiced.

Mangoes انبه

Khuzestan, Hormozgan, Baluchestan. Iran's own small, fragrant mangoes from the south.

Tea harvest برداشت چای

Lahijan, Gilan. Three pickings a year on the green hills above the Caspian.

Tart cherries (albaloo) آلبالو

across Iran. Sold by the kilo in early summer for jam, sharbat and rice.

Gol gavzaban (borage flowers) گل گاوزبان

Gilan and Mazandaran slopes. Picked in early summer and shade-dried until the petals turn violet-blue.

Khorasan & the East

Sistan Wind

باد سیستان

Melon, lime and mint, as cooling as the famous summer wind.

The Caspian

Tirgan

تیرگان

Rosé, watermelon and a splash of water, for the midsummer festival of rain.

All of Iran

Summer Courtyard

حیاط تابستان

Watermelon, rose and a gentle bitterness, by the courtyard pool.

Persian Gulf & Khuzestan

Abadan Mango Heat

انبهٔ تند آبادان

Mango, lime and chili, the street flavors of Abadan.

The Caspian

Lahijan Mist

مه لاهیجان

A hot tea toddy with brandy, honey and cardamom, for misty evenings.

Zagros & Kurdistan

Kermanshah Pearl

مروارید کرمانشاه

Clean, soft and fragrant, served with Kermanshah's rice cookies.

All of Iran

Tart Cherry Noir

آلبالو

Deep sour cherry with a whisper of almond.

All of Iran

Cherry Ember

اخگر آلبالو

Sour cherry and sekanjebin with a glow of mezcal smoke.

July

Tirgan

early July

Tirgan تیرگان

The midsummer water festival of Tir. Splashing water, tying rainbow bands, watermelon in the heat.

watermelonmeloncucumbermint

Melons and watermelon خربزه و هندوانه

Sistan, Khorasan, Khuzestan. Summer in a slice. Chilled, salted, juiced.

Mangoes انبه

Khuzestan, Hormozgan, Baluchestan. Iran's own small, fragrant mangoes from the south.

Tea harvest برداشت چای

Lahijan, Gilan. Three pickings a year on the green hills above the Caspian.

Tart cherries (albaloo) آلبالو

across Iran. Sold by the kilo in early summer for jam, sharbat and rice.

Gol gavzaban (borage flowers) گل گاوزبان

Gilan and Mazandaran slopes. Picked in early summer and shade-dried until the petals turn violet-blue.

The Caspian

Tirgan

تیرگان

Rosé, watermelon and a splash of water, for the midsummer festival of rain.

All of Iran

Summer Courtyard

حیاط تابستان

Watermelon, rose and a gentle bitterness, by the courtyard pool.

Khorasan & the East

Sistan Wind

باد سیستان

Melon, lime and mint, as cooling as the famous summer wind.

Persian Gulf & Khuzestan

Hormuz Breeze

نسیم هرمز

Dried lime, fresh lime and sea salt, a long drink for the island of colors.

Fars

Meymand Julep

گلاب میمند

The julep goes home: bourbon, mint sekanjebin and a drop of rose water over crushed ice.

All of Iran

Sharbati Soda

سودای شربتی

Rose, lime and basil-seed pearls drifting in a tall glass: the Ramadan sharbat, lengthened with vodka and soda.

Tehran & the Alborz

Āb-Havij Bastani

آب‌هویج بستنی

The Tehran juice-bar float, grown up: carrot, cardamom, cognac and a scoop of saffron ice cream.

Persian Gulf & Khuzestan

Bandari

بندری

Ginger and two limes from the Persian Gulf: aragh, ginger syrup, fresh lime and the smoky sourness of dried lime, long and fizzy.

August

Harvest time

Melons and watermelon خربزه و هندوانه

Sistan, Khorasan, Khuzestan. Summer in a slice. Chilled, salted, juiced.

Mangoes انبه

Khuzestan, Hormozgan, Baluchestan. Iran's own small, fragrant mangoes from the south.

Figs انجیر

Estahban, Fars. The world's largest rain-fed fig orchards, dried on the hills in late summer.

Tea harvest برداشت چای

Lahijan, Gilan. Three pickings a year on the green hills above the Caspian.

Tameshk (wild blackberries) تمشک

Mazandaran and Gilan roadsides. Picked wild at the edge of the Hyrcanian forest and sold in paper cones in late summer.

Khorasan & the East

Sistan Wind

باد سیستان

Melon, lime and mint, as cooling as the famous summer wind.

The Caspian

Tirgan

تیرگان

Rosé, watermelon and a splash of water, for the midsummer festival of rain.

All of Iran

Summer Courtyard

حیاط تابستان

Watermelon, rose and a gentle bitterness, by the courtyard pool.

Persian Gulf & Khuzestan

Abadan Mango Heat

انبهٔ تند آبادان

Mango, lime and chili, the street flavors of Abadan.

Fars

Estahban Fig & Garnet

انجیر و انار استهبان

Honeyed fig and tart pomegranate, an autumn afternoon in Fars.

The Caspian

Lahijan Mist

مه لاهیجان

A hot tea toddy with brandy, honey and cardamom, for misty evenings.

Zagros & Kurdistan

Kermanshah Pearl

مروارید کرمانشاه

Clean, soft and fragrant, served with Kermanshah's rice cookies.

The Caspian

Tameshk

تمشک

Wild blackberries and purple basil from the Caspian forests, muddled with aragh, honey and lime over crushed ice.

September

Harvest time

Figs انجیر

Estahban, Fars. The world's largest rain-fed fig orchards, dried on the hills in late summer.

Pistachios پسته

Rafsanjan, Kerman. Fresh pistachios in their pink hulls appear for a few weeks in early autumn.

Dates خرما

Bam, Jahrom, Khuzestan, the Persian Gulf coast. Mazafati dates from Bam, soft and dark, picked in early autumn.

Jujubes (annab) عناب

Birjand. Amber fruit that tastes of date and apple when dried.

Tea harvest برداشت چای

Lahijan, Gilan. Three pickings a year on the green hills above the Caspian.

Walnuts گردو

Tuyserkan, Hamadan. Knocked from the trees in early autumn in the valley the FAO lists as world heritage.

Tameshk (wild blackberries) تمشک

Mazandaran and Gilan roadsides. Picked wild at the edge of the Hyrcanian forest and sold in paper cones in late summer.

Fars

Estahban Fig & Garnet

انجیر و انار استهبان

Honeyed fig and tart pomegranate, an autumn afternoon in Fars.

Kerman & Yazd

Rafsanjan Silk

حریر رفسنجان

Pistachio and sherry, silky and gently sweet.

All of Iran

Yalda & Pistachio

یلدا و پسته

The Yalda table in one glass, pomegranate and pistachio.

All of Iran

Pineapple & Pistachio

آناناس و پسته

Tropical pineapple meets Kerman pistachio, a playful juice-bar combination.

Kerman & Yazd

Bam Velvet

مخمل خرمای بم

Dates, dark rum, port and cream. Dessert in a coupe.

Persian Gulf & Khuzestan

Karun Nights

شب‌های کارون

Aged rum, dates and cardamom coffee, for evenings by the river.

Khorasan & the East

Baluchestan Sunset

غروب بلوچستان

Ruby hibiscus and a touch of date, the color of evening on the coast.

Fars

Jahrom Golden Grove

باغ زرین جهرم

Dates, ardeh and orange. A silky citrus sour from Jahrom's orchards.

October

Mehregan

2 October

Mehregan مهرگان

The autumn festival of Mehr, friendship and harvest. Pomegranates, quinces and the first saffron.

quincepomegranatepersimmonsaffron

Saffron harvest برداشت زعفران

Khorasan: Torbat-e Heydarieh, Qaen. Picked before dawn for three or four weeks in late autumn.

Pomegranates انار

Saveh, Yazd, Fars. Juice stands on every corner from October to Yalda.

Quince به

Isfahan. Golden and perfumed in autumn; cooked, it turns rose-pink.

Persimmons خرمالو

across Iran. Soft, honeyed, at its best when it is almost too ripe.

Pistachios پسته

Rafsanjan, Kerman. Fresh pistachios in their pink hulls appear for a few weeks in early autumn.

Dates خرما

Bam, Jahrom, Khuzestan, the Persian Gulf coast. Mazafati dates from Bam, soft and dark, picked in early autumn.

Barberries (zereshk) زرشک

Qaen and Birjand, South Khorasan. Tiny red berries dried for rice and syrups.

Jujubes (annab) عناب

Birjand. Amber fruit that tastes of date and apple when dried.

Olives زیتون

Rudbar, Gilan. Harvested in autumn and marinated with walnuts and pomegranate molasses.

Walnuts گردو

Tuyserkan, Hamadan. Knocked from the trees in early autumn in the valley the FAO lists as world heritage.

Isfahan & the heartland

Isfahan Beh

بهِ اصفهان

Golden quince and apple brandy from "half the world."

All of Iran

Autumn Ember

اخگر پاییز

Ripe persimmon, smoke, bitter orange and rose, for Mehregan.

Fars

Jamshid's Cup

جام جم

Apple brandy, pomegranate and bubbles, for the king who gave Iran Nowruz.

Khorasan & the East

Khorasan Sunrise

طلوع خراسان

Saffron and apricot at first light. Where the collection begins.

Zagros & Kurdistan

Somagh

سماق

The kebab table's sour trio, pomegranate, sour cherry and sekanjebin, with aragh under a foam dusted with sumac.

Khorasan & the East

Red Gold of Qaen

طلای سرخ قائن

A dry saffron martini with a whisper of smoke and salt.

Khorasan & the East

Neyshabur Vesper

وسپر نیشابور

For Omar Khayyam, poet of the wine cup.

Khorasan & the East

Mashhad After Dark

شب مشهد

A saffron Old Fashioned, sweetened at your own pace with a stick of nabat.

November

Harvest time

Saffron harvest برداشت زعفران

Khorasan: Torbat-e Heydarieh, Qaen. Picked before dawn for three or four weeks in late autumn.

Pomegranates انار

Saveh, Yazd, Fars. Juice stands on every corner from October to Yalda.

Quince به

Isfahan. Golden and perfumed in autumn; cooked, it turns rose-pink.

Persimmons خرمالو

across Iran. Soft, honeyed, at its best when it is almost too ripe.

Sweet lemons لیمو شیرین

across Iran. Mild, floral winter citrus; drink the juice within minutes.

Olives زیتون

Rudbar, Gilan. Harvested in autumn and marinated with walnuts and pomegranate molasses.

Khorasan & the East

Khorasan Sunrise

طلوع خراسان

Saffron and apricot at first light. Where the collection begins.

Khorasan & the East

Red Gold of Qaen

طلای سرخ قائن

A dry saffron martini with a whisper of smoke and salt.

Khorasan & the East

Neyshabur Vesper

وسپر نیشابور

For Omar Khayyam, poet of the wine cup.

Khorasan & the East

Mashhad After Dark

شب مشهد

A saffron Old Fashioned, sweetened at your own pace with a stick of nabat.

All of Iran

Albaloo Polo

آلبالوپلو

Sour-cherry rice in a glass: bourbon, sweet vermouth, tart cherry syrup and two drops of saffron.

All of Iran

Yalda

یلدا

Pomegranate and orange blossom for the longest night of the year.

Fars

Estahban Fig & Garnet

انجیر و انار استهبان

Honeyed fig and tart pomegranate, an autumn afternoon in Fars.

Fars

Jamshid's Cup

جام جم

Apple brandy, pomegranate and bubbles, for the king who gave Iran Nowruz.

December

Shab-e Yalda

20–21 December

Shab-e Yalda شب یلدا

The longest night. Families stay up with pomegranates, watermelon saved from summer, nuts and the poems of Hafez.

pomegranatewatermelonpistachiodried fruit

Pomegranates انار

Saveh, Yazd, Fars. Juice stands on every corner from October to Yalda.

Quince به

Isfahan. Golden and perfumed in autumn; cooked, it turns rose-pink.

Bitter oranges نارنج

Mazandaran and Gilan. The Caspian winter citrus, squeezed over fish and into drinks.

Sweet lemons لیمو شیرین

across Iran. Mild, floral winter citrus; drink the juice within minutes.

Laboo (winter beets) لبو

Tehran street carts. Steamed whole for hours and sold hot with golpar on winter nights.

Blood oranges پرتقال خونی

Dezful and the Khuzestan groves. The reddest fruit comes after the cold nights of January.

All of Iran

Yalda

یلدا

Pomegranate and orange blossom for the longest night of the year.

All of Iran

Yalda & Pistachio

یلدا و پسته

The Yalda table in one glass, pomegranate and pistachio.

Isfahan & the heartland

Saveh Smoke

انار دودی ساوه

Pomegranate and a whisper of peat smoke, from the town of pomegranates.

All of Iran

Tart Cherry Noir

آلبالو

Deep sour cherry with a whisper of almond.

Tehran & the Alborz

Laboo Foroosh

لبوفروش

Tehran's winter street beet in a coupe: aragh, roasted-beet and golpar syrup, lemon, and a golpar-salt rim.

Tehran & the Alborz

Zang-e Tafrih

زنگ تفریح

The schoolyard snack grown up: aragh, pomegranate and sour plum, with a ribbon of lavashak on the glass.

All of Iran

Albaloo Polo

آلبالوپلو

Sour-cherry rice in a glass: bourbon, sweet vermouth, tart cherry syrup and two drops of saffron.

Persian Gulf & Khuzestan

Ranginak

رنگینک

Bushehr's date-and-walnut sweet as a stirred drink: aged rum, a syrup of dates, walnuts, cinnamon and cardamom, and bitters.