Ayran is a frothy beverage made with yogurt and cold water, which is the reason why it is sometimes described as "diluted yogurt." It dates back to the times of ancient Persia, when it was made with curdled milk and water that was seasoned with mint.

Apart from Iran, ayran is quite popular in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Turkey – where it has even been promoted as a national drink. Traditionally, ayran is mixed manually until it develops a frothy consistency and produces foam.

Because it is a typical summer drink, ayran is usually chilled and served in a tall glass as an accompaniment to numerous street food dishes.