Beverages

Non-Alcoholic

• Shai (شاي): Black tea with lots of sugar — THE Egyptian drink. Everywhere, always, in small glasses. Order “shai min gheer sukkar” for tea without sugar.
• Ahwa (قهوة): Turkish coffee — finely ground, brewed in a copper pot. Order “sada” (without sugar), “mazbout” (medium), “ziyada” (sweet).
• Karkadeh (كركديه): Hibiscus tea — deep red, slightly tart, hot or ice-cold. Refreshing and healthy. The unofficial national drink alongside tea.
• Asir Asab (عصير قصب): Freshly pressed sugarcane juice — the green presses are on every street corner. 5–15 LE per glass. Sweet, refreshing, purely plant-based.
• Fruit Juices: Mango, guava, strawberry, pomegranate — freshly pressed at juice stands everywhere. 15–30 LE. Heavenly.
• Sahlab: Hot milk drink with orchid root flour, cinnamon, and nuts. A winter classic.

Alcohol

Alcohol is legal in Egypt but socially stigmatized. Available in:

• Hotels and licensed restaurants: Beer (Stella, Sakara — Egyptian brands, 30–60 LE), wine (Egyptian wine is better than its reputation — try Omar Khayyam), cocktails.
• Duty Free: At the airport or in duty-free shops in the city (within 48 hours of arrival). Significantly cheaper than in hotels.
• Drinkies: Licensed liquor stores — recognizable by the barred windows.