Laban ataupun plain yogurt drink ini sangat mudah didapati kedai-kedai runcit di Arab Saudi. Reason being it is a staple drink taken regularly by the Arabs (in hot weather countries). It has cooling effect and helps replenish all the water and salt your body needs in such hot weather. In Saudi Arabia you may find yogurt drink labelled as Lebanese Ayran - ayran is the Turkish word for yogurt (laban). Benda sama nama je berbeza.
I first encountered laban in an Arabic grocery shop operated by the owners of the famous Zam Zam Restaurant in Oasis, Section 9 Shah Alam. A small bottle of 250ml is sold at RM1.40. Very very cheap indeed. Laban is a unflavoured (plain) yogurt drink unlike Lassi (Indian sweet and fruity yogurt drink) yang banyak dijual di pasaran kita, so it might take some time for you to get accustomed to the plain (sometimes a little bit salty) sour taste. I'm OK with it coz I already know that plain undesirable thing is actually packed full with goodness!
Laban in assorted brands produced in Saudi Arabia. Laban jenama Al Safi dan Activia (an international brand) banyak didapati di Makkah. While Nadec brand lebih popular di Madinah. The 500ml is sold at SR2 equivalent to RM2. The small ones are sold at SR1. Cheap huh?
When I break the news about leaving for umrah.... well I didn't exactly make an announcement. Rather a very subtle status update on facebook about how we have to give Fahmi (who sported a tonsilitis induced fever) extra care under the hot weather when we get there. One very sharp lady responded by bidding us 'safe journey' and shared the tips to maintain body fluid and coolness by drinking plain yogurt. Jadi dari permulaan kami jejak kaki di Madinah lagi perkara pertama saya buat ialah cari kedai runcit dan stock up our mini fridge dalam bilik hotel dengan laban! ;-)
Hubby don't really like the taste of it. Tapi dia minum juga sekerap yang boleh untuk kekal sihat. Tapi dia tak boleh beat kekerapan saya melantak minum laban. I think I almost clean up our stock setiap hari. The kids drink them too, only when they were told to. My mum? Ha ha... she's not a fan.
Alhamdulillah dengan cuaca di Madinah yang mencecah 46C, matahari tegak atas kepala tanpa bayang dan udara yang disedut masuk hidung pun berbahang - saya pernah duduk dalam engine room kapal laut yang panas berkuap pun udara nya tak sepanas ini. Yes, di awal ketibaan kami di Madinah we do get lethargic, kering tekak dan sebagainya. Tapi sehingga kami tiba di tanahair kami semua berada dalam kesihatan yang baik, dengan izin Allah. Agak mengujakan kerana kami tidak mengalami batuk-batuk atau selsema seperti kebiasaan jemaah umrah yang baru pulang. Again, praise to Allah yang mengizinkan dengan berkat minum air zam zam umpama rasa nak makan zam zam & laban, minum zam zam & laban, mandi zam zam & laban, bernafas pun zam zam dan laban.
Ni, tengah musim panas di bulan Ramadhan ni kan sesuai sangat minum laban. Why not make a change in your diet. Minum a glass for sahur or even masa berbuka. Give it a try dan rasakan perubahannya. You might even get addicted to it! ;-)
You can actually make your own laban drink you know. All you need is just:
250ml plain yogurt (low fat preferably)
3 cups water
1/4 teaspoon salt
Mix everything together until yogurt dissolve. Keep chill in the fridge before you serve.
Cool, kan?
