A smooth, nourishing drink made from toasted flaxseed ground and whisked into water with a little sugar and lemon. Naturally thick and faintly nutty, it is a refreshing and energizing staple, especially valued during fasting periods. Served cold, it doubles as a wholesome thirst-quencher and light meal.
Telba comes from the highlands where flax has long been grown for both oil and food, and its seeds turned into a sustaining drink for fasting days when energy from animal products is forbidden. Prized as both refreshment and folk tonic, it remains a common offering in homes and a fixture of the meatless table.
Silky and lightly viscous, with a mellow toasted-nut flavor and a clean, faintly grassy edge. The sugar makes it gently sweet while the lemon keeps it bright and refreshing. Thicker than water and surprisingly filling, it is soothing and easy to drink.
Flaxseed is rich in soluble mucilage that swells in water, naturally thickening the drink into a smooth, slightly gel-like body without any starch or dairy. Toasting first develops nutty aromas and tames the raw, grassy taste of the seeds.
Variations
Unsweetened savory telba, version blended with other grains, thicker porridge-like telba eaten with a spoon, spiced with a pinch of cardamom
On the Palate
Where Telba sits in the Ethiopian flavor cloud
Ingredients
Serves 4How it's made
8 steps · 10 min
- 16 min
Toast flaxseeds in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant and lightly popping.
Watch outToast the flaxseeds just until nutty and starting to pop — that's when the grassy raw taste burns off; take them further and they turn bitter.
- 25 min
Let the toasted seeds cool completely.
- 33 min
Grind them to a fine meal in a spice grinder or mortar.
- 43 min
Whisk the ground flax into cool water until evenly dispersed.
- 560 min
Let the mixture sit so it thickens and the flavors meld.
Watch outLet it stand until it thickens to a smooth, faintly gel-like body — that slip means the flax has bloomed; rush it and it stays watery.
- 62 min
Sweeten with sugar or honey and brighten with lemon juice.
- 72 min
Stir well and strain if a smoother texture is preferred.
- 81 min
Serve chilled over the course of the day.
