Sobia is a sweet, pale drink associated especially with Ramadan. Recipes vary: rice, coconut, milk and vanilla may all feature, giving it a creamy texture and a gentle, fragrant sweetness. It is often sold cold by specialist drink vendors and seasonal stalls.

Where to try it

Sobia is easiest to seek out during Ramadan, when traditional drink stalls and juice shops make it part of the seasonal street scene. Ask at established juice counters in Downtown or around the old markets, and choose a busy vendor with good turnover.

Find sobia drink shops in Downtown Cairo

Recipes differ from vendor to vendor, so treat it as a local speciality rather than expecting one fixed flavour. If you are sensitive to dairy or unsure about handling, ask what is in the batch.