Tehran’s Blue Yoghurt Bowls

Grandma Stella fondly recalls the vibrant blue ceramic bowls of creamy yogurt sold in Tehran, a refreshing treat enjoyed during hot summer afternoons and spring.

I love those deep vibrant blues of the Middle East. They remind me of the bowls of yogurt they sold in Tehran. They made ceramic bowls of the same shades of blue. They were filled with rich, creamy yogurt topped with a thick layer of cream skin. Every day during summer we bought a large bowl. We would mix it with finely chopped mint and Persian cucumbers or chopped dill during the cooling summer afternoons under the arbor shaded by climbing vines and clusters of grapes hanging from above. In spring, we would mix it with drained, cooked spinach, mixed with fried onions and garlic and crushed dried mint. How cool! How refreshing! How delicious!