The tuber must be cut away and this kills the parent plant. The insensible harvesting of the plant has led to certain species being banned as a source for salep. Many of the strains of salep that are harvested for use in the country are banned from being sent outside Turkey.

What does salep powder taste like?

Sweet and savory and spicy all at once, there’s a note of bark or tree in it—Ayse explains that gum arabic, made from the sap of the acacia tree, is also an ingredient, one more familiar to eastern palates than western.

What is salep used for?

Salep is a plant. The root (tuber), powdered and added to water, is used as medicine. People take salep for digestion problems including heartburn, gas (flatulence), and indigestion. Salep is also used for diarrhea, particularly in children.