Egypt has a rich drinking culture that goes far beyond bottled water, though that’s certainly where you should start. From strong black coffee served in tiny cups to ruby-red hibiscus tea sold by street vendors, the country offers a lineup of traditional beverages you won’t find at home. Here’s what to sip, what to skip, and what to know before you go.
Start With Bottled Water
Tap water in Egypt is not safe to drink in many areas. Hotels and restaurants often serve tap water by default unless you specifically ask for bottled, so get in the habit of requesting it. Ice in drinks may also be made from tap water, which is worth keeping in mind at smaller or more casual spots. Stick to sealed bottles, and check that the cap seal is intact before drinking.
The most widely available brands are Dasani, Aquafina, and Nestlé, which together control about 70% of Egypt’s bottled water market. You’ll find them at corner shops, gas stations, hotel lobbies, and restaurants throughout the country. Prices are low, typically just a few Egyptian pounds for a half-liter bottle.
Egyptian Tea: The National Drink
Tea, not coffee, is what Egyptians drink most. It’s offered at every meal, in every shop, and by nearly every host you’ll encounter. There are two main styles, split roughly along geographic lines.
Koshary tea is the version popular in northern Egypt, including Cairo. It’s a lighter black tea brewed with cane sugar and fresh mint leaves. It’s refreshing, not overpowering, and a good starting point if you’re not used to strong tea. Saiidi tea, common in southern Egypt, is brewed much stronger and darker, with a heavy dose of sugar to balance the intensity. If someone hands you a glass of Saiidi tea, expect it to be bold.
Tea is almost always served with sugar already added. If you prefer yours unsweetened, say so upfront or you’ll likely get a very sweet cup.
How to Order Egyptian Coffee
Egyptian coffee is similar to Turkish coffee: finely ground, unfiltered, and brewed in a small pot. It’s served in tiny cups, and the grounds settle at the bottom (don’t drink those). What makes the ordering experience distinct is that you specify your sugar level when you order, because the sugar is brewed into the coffee itself.
There are five standard levels, each with its own Arabic name:
- Sada: No sugar at all. For purists.
- Ariha: Half a teaspoon of sugar. Lightly sweet, good for a first try.
- Mazbuta: One teaspoon. This is the most popular order and translates roughly to “just right.”
- Hilwa: A teaspoon and a half. Noticeably sweet.
- Ziyada: Two or more teaspoons. Reserved for special occasions or guests.
If you sit in a traditional coffeehouse (called an ahwa), you’ll notice people lingering for hours over a single cup. That’s the point. The coffee is meant to be sipped slowly, often alongside a game of backgammon or a water pipe.
Karkadeh: Egypt’s Signature Cold Drink
Karkadeh is a deep red tea made from dried hibiscus flower petals, and it’s everywhere in Egypt. It tastes tart and slightly sweet, like a less sugary version of Southern sweet tea with a cranberry-like bite. Vendors still walk the streets carrying large carafes of iced karkadeh, a scene that’s been part of Egyptian street life for generations. The drink dates back thousands of years, and Egyptians sometimes call it the drink of the pharaohs.
You’ll find it served both hot and cold. In summer, it’s poured over ice with a squeeze of lime and a sprig of mint. In cooler months, it works as a warm tea. Most restaurants and juice shops carry it year-round. It’s caffeine-free and widely considered a good hydration choice in the heat.
Fresh Juice Stands
One of the best parts of drinking in Egypt has nothing to do with tea or coffee. Juice shops line the streets of Cairo, Luxor, Alexandria, and nearly every other city. They press fresh sugarcane juice, mango, guava, strawberry, and orange right in front of you for very little money. Sugarcane juice in particular is a must-try: bright, grassy, and intensely sweet, served cold from a hand-cranked press. It’s one of the most refreshing things you can drink on a hot day.
One practical note: if you’re concerned about water safety, ask whether the juice is made with water or milk, and whether ice has been added. Pure pressed juices without added water are your safest bet from street vendors.
Sobia and Ramadan Drinks
If you visit during Ramadan, you’ll encounter a whole category of drinks that appear mainly during the holy month. Sobia is the most iconic: a thick, sweet, milky white drink made from soaked powdered rice blended with coconut milk, sugar, powdered milk, and vanilla. It’s starchy and rich, designed to rehydrate and replenish after a full day of fasting. Street vendors sell it in plastic bottles, and it’s served ice-cold.
Tamarind juice (tamr hindi) and carob juice (kharoub) also appear more frequently during Ramadan, sold from ornate brass dispensers in shop windows. All three are worth trying if you happen to be there during the fasting month.
Sahlab: A Winter Warm-Up
If you’re visiting in winter, look for sahlab. It’s a warm, thick, creamy drink made from sweetened milk flavored with vanilla and orange blossom water, then topped with cinnamon, crushed pistachios, and sometimes shredded coconut. The texture falls somewhere between a drink and a pudding.
Traditionally, sahlab gets its thickness from ground orchid tubers, but because those are now rare and expensive, most versions use cornstarch instead. You’ll find it at cafés and street carts during the cooler months, roughly November through February. It’s essentially drinkable dessert, and it’s excellent on a chilly Cairo evening.
Alcohol in Egypt
Alcohol is legal in Egypt but comes with rules. The legal drinking age is 21, and public drinking is prohibited. That means no open bottles on the street, no drinking on the beach outside a resort, and no being visibly intoxicated in public. Fines and legal trouble are real possibilities. Alcohol is available at licensed hotels, restaurants, bars, and some tourist-oriented shops.
Egypt has its own domestic beer and wine scene. Stella, brewed by Al Ahram Beverages, has been Egypt’s signature beer for almost 120 years (not to be confused with Stella Artois). Sakara is another popular local lager. For wine, Omar Khayyam and Grand Marquis are among the most common Egyptian labels. None of these will rival European imports, but they’re affordable and widely available at hotel bars and licensed restaurants.
During Ramadan, alcohol availability shrinks significantly. Many restaurants and bars stop serving it entirely, though international hotel chains typically continue. Plan accordingly if your trip overlaps with the fasting month.