The culinary delights of Middle Eastern fare are truly unique and unlike anything else in the world. It is a tantalising blend of aroma and flavour, intertwining together to create a symphony of delightful sensations.

At MAHA Restaurant, these tastes have been perfected and chilled down for easy consumption. Their creations offer the perfect balance between the rich, complex bouquet of flavours with those that are more subdued and refreshing. Every sip is an indulgent experience, seducing all senses with its amazing depth and diversity.

When trying these Middle East drink recipes at home, you can expect your tastebuds to be met by a medley of spices like cinnamon, cumin, cardamom and saffron as well as sweet hints of honey or molasses. Bottoms up!

1 - Anaar

If you want to make MAHA Restaurant’s Anaar cocktail at home, it is important to use freshly squeezed pomegranate juice as the secret ingredient. This tart and sweet fruit provides a balance for the bold flavours of sumac spice and cachaça which come together in the drink. If you don’t have time or the necessary equipment for juicing pomegranates, store-bought juice is an acceptable alternative.

Ingredients:

·         45ml cachaça

·         20ml lemon juice (plus extra to rim glass)

·         Juice of half a pomegranate

·         15ml sumac-infused simple syrup

·         Ground sumac (for garnish)

·         Lemon peel (for garnish)

Method:

·         To create a straightforward syrup, mix equal parts white sugar and water in a saucepan. Add sumac to taste, and then bring the syrup to boil, stirring consistently until the sugar has completely dissolved. Leave the syrup to cool.

·         Take a small, shallow bowl and fill it with extra lemon juice. Do the same with sumac, then dip the rim of a tumbler in the lemon juice followed by the sumac.

·         Now that you’ve created a nice rim around your tumbler, fill it with the above-stated measurements of pomegranate juice, lemon juice, cachaça and 15ml of the syrup.

·         Top the tumbler with ice, stir, garnish with a twist of lemon peel and enjoy!

2 - Lemonada

No list of Lebanon drinks is complete without this staple. Whether you’re in the picturesque landscapes of the Middle East or by the endless coastline of Australia, what’s more refreshing than an ice-cold glass of lemonade in the peak of summer? Our lemonada is inspired by this thirst-quenching moment, but with a little extra kick in the form of lemon oleo saccharum.

Ingredients:

·         Slice of lemon (for garnish)

·         30ml fresh lemon juice

·         25ml lemon oleo saccharum

·         Soda water (to top)

·         Mint (for garnish)

Method:

Take a tall glass, fill it with ice and add the slice of lemon. Next, simply pour in the lemon juice and lemon oleo saccharum, topping off with soda water. Stir the glass, add your mint, and enjoy!

3 - Turkish Delight

MAHA Restaurant’s Turkish Delight cocktail is a unique concoction that combines the sweetness of Middle Eastern delicacies with the invigorating freshness of coconut water. The combination creates a refreshing, contemporary beverage that serves as a great accompaniment to your outdoor lunch, or simply enjoy it on its own in the sun!

Ingredients:

·         20ml fresh lemon juice (plus extra to rim glass)

·         Coconut and rose powder (for garnish)

·         10ml rose syrup

·         45ml vodka

·         60ml coconut water

·         Soda water (to top)

Method:

1.      Take two small, shallow bowls; filling one with lemon juice and the other with coconut and rose powder. Take a tall glass, and dip its rim in the lemon juice bowl followed by the powder bowl to create a nice rim around your glass.

2.      Pour the above-mentioned measurements of rose syrup, lemon juice, vodka and coconut water into the glass, and stir thoroughly before adding ice, topping up with soda water, and serving.

Book a table at MAHA Restaurant today

Want to enjoy a mouth-watering Middle Eastern inspired cocktail without the effort of making it yourself? Look no further than MAHA Restaurant – Bond Street’s trendiest new bar in the heart of the Melbourne CBD, offering up delectable culinary delights and thirst-quenching cocktails like the ones featured here. We look forward to seeing you soon!