[phatch]

I was at a Persian chicken kabob joint today and noticed Yogurt Soda in the cooler. I'd already filled my drink so I passed on it today. I asked the proprietor about it and he said it's a salty drink, no sugar. Sort of like a carbonated lassi I suppose.

They had a mint flavored variety too.

I'll take one for the team and try it out next time I'm in there.

Has anyone else ever tried this?

[BevReview Steve]

Wow, that sounds really odd. Never tried it. Curious what your experience will be like... and thankful I don't have to review it!

[phatch]

I finally got around to trying this with my family. The three kids didn't like it, which was really to be expected.

Wife and I are indifferent to it though it's certainly odd to US tastes.

Ingredients are just milk, carbonated water, yogurt culture and salt. And that's pretty much how it tasted. But let me add that the sodium level is over 800 mg for a 16 oz bottle. To me it tasted most like a smooth fizzy loose cottage cheese. Also much like a salt lassi from India. I know that sounds horrible but it wasn't bad. Not anything I would call great either.

I can see where it would be good with a spicy cuisine as it would neutralize and clear the palate. Where I'm on a reduced sodium diet, it's just unreasonably salty for me so just once it is.

[boar_d_laze]

I like the plain quite a bit, and really love the mint. It's not particularly Persian. Armenians, Turks, Syrians, Lebanese, etc., like it.

BDL

[boar_d_laze]

Opening yogurt soda is really a kick. All the yogurt settles on the bottom and you have to swirl the bottle to mix it back into the soda. Of course that gets the gas going so when you open the bottle -- paZIZZ, yogurt everywhere.

FWIW, Abali is located in Los Angeles. There may be other regional bottlers, though.

The stuff really shines on ice. I bought a "handy 4-pack" of the mint today at a local Russain super, and had a bottle with taramaslata on a sesame bagel. Outstanding.

BDL

[phatch]

The various middle eastern grocers is where I see it the most. I just didn't want to commit to a bunch of bottles so waited for the chance back at Chicken Express to try one out.

[phatch]

It occurs to me that this could make an interesting basis for a marinade. The mint particularly.