Sulaimani is a black tea brewed with cardamom and lemon, served without milk, and in Muslim households across South India and the Middle East it's poured at the end of a feast as a refreshing finish. Elaka's Sulaimani Sorbet turns that tea into a frozen treat, made to honor our founder's mother and her great love of this drink. It's vegan and gluten-free.
If you've ever wondered what Sulaimani is, or you're hunting for a tea ice cream that's light enough to eat after a big dinner, read on. Here's the story behind our sorbet, where Sulaimani comes from, and how we like to serve it.
The story: a tea for Shafna's mother
Sulaimani is a black tea with cardamom and lemon. It's as simple as that! But what it represents is so much more than a drink. It's the cup that comes out when the plates are cleared, when everyone is full and happy and nobody is in a hurry to leave the table.
For our founder, Shafna Shamsuddin, it's also a family story. Her mother loves Sulaimani, and we mean really loves it. This sorbet is our tribute to that love, and a celebration of all the long, happy meals that end with a glass of this tea.
Sulaimani Sorbet is one of our House flavors, part of the core lineup we keep coming back to. It's also one of the family recipes we share on our story page, alongside Z's Lemonade and Strawberry Hot Chocolate.
What is Sulaimani tea?
Sulaimani (also spelled Sulemani or Suleimani) is closely tied to the Malabar coast of northern Kerala, especially cities like Kozhikode. It's brewed strong and clear, to a deep amber, with no milk at all. Cardamom is the classic spice, and a squeeze of lemon goes in at the end. Some cooks add a little ginger, cloves or a mint leaf, and every family seems to have its own version.
The after-feast tradition
Sulaimani is famous as the drink that follows a big meal. At Malabar weddings and celebrations, a heavy biryani lunch is traditionally followed by glasses of Sulaimani, and it's often described as an essential item on wedding menus in the region. People drink it because it's light and bright after something rich, and because it signals the happy end of a good meal.
Where the name comes from
Nobody is completely sure, and that's part of the fun. Most accounts connect Sulaimani to the centuries of trade between the Malabar coast and the Arab world. One popular story says it grew out of ghava, an Arabic drink of dates and spices, with tea leaves and sugar replacing the dates over time. As for the name, you'll hear several theories:
- That "Sulaimani" means something like "man of peace," a name Malabar locals gave to their Arab trading friends.
- That it comes from "Ceyloni," a name for tea from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), which shifted over time.
- That it's linked to the city of Sulaymaniyah in Iraq, or to the name Sulaiman (Solomon).
None of these has been firmly proven, so we enjoy them all as stories. What's certain is that Sulaimani is loved across Kerala and among Malayali communities in the Gulf, and it's become a little symbol of hospitality wherever it's poured.
What Sulaimani Sorbet tastes like
Imagine the brightest, most refreshing glass of iced tea you've ever had, then freeze it. The black tea gives a gentle, toasty depth with a slight tannic edge. Cardamom adds that warm, floral perfume we put in every Elaka flavor (elakka is the Malayalam word for cardamom, after all). The lemon lifts everything up with a clean, zingy finish.
Because it's a sorbet, there's no dairy, so it's crisp and light rather than creamy. It melts quickly on the tongue and leaves your mouth feeling fresh, which is exactly what the drink is meant to do after a feast.
Key ingredients
- Black tea base
- Cardamom
- Lemon
That's it. Three ingredients, done well.
Dietary badges
Sulaimani Sorbet is vegan and gluten-free. It doesn't carry our contains-nuts badge. Our badges describe the ingredients in each flavor rather than promising a product is free of any allergen, so please check the label on your pack and contact us with any allergy questions. Find it in our vegan collection and our gluten-free collection.
How to serve it
- After biryani, the traditional way. Make Sulaimani Sorbet your finishing course after a big rice dinner. It's a cool, spoonable version of the after-feast glass.
- Floated in a glass of iced tea. Drop a scoop into chilled black tea or sparkling water with a lemon slice and a mint leaf. Instant celebration drink.
- With something rich and creamy. Serve a small scoop next to our Kulfi or Vanilla Milk. The bright tea and the creamy cardamom are a lovely pair.
Which packs it's in
You can order Sulaimani Sorbet on its own as a 4-pack, choose it in a mix and match 4-pack from all flavors, or find it in our Golden Hour curated pack with Pineapple Hibiscus Sorbet, Z's Lemonade and Carolina Peach Sonker. It's a bright, fruity set made for eating outside in warm, late-afternoon light. See all the combinations in our curated 4-packs.
Curious how sorbet differs from our creamier flavors? Our guide to sorbet vs gelato vs ice cream vs kulfi breaks it down. Every pack ships frozen on dry ice, and you can read how shipping works. Want Sulaimani Sorbet on your café or restaurant menu? Visit our wholesale page.
Frequently asked questions
What is Sulaimani?
Sulaimani is a black tea brewed with spices like cardamom and served with lemon instead of milk. It's especially loved on the Malabar coast of Kerala, where it's traditionally poured after a big meal such as biryani.
Does Sulaimani Sorbet have caffeine?
It's made with a black tea base, and black tea naturally contains caffeine. If you're sensitive to caffeine, you may want to enjoy it earlier in the day.
Is Sulaimani Sorbet vegan?
Yes. It's made from black tea, cardamom and lemon, with no milk, and it carries our vegan and gluten-free badges. As always, check the label on your pack if you have an allergy.
Ready to end your next feast the Malabar way? Grab a Sulaimani Sorbet 4-pack, share it around the table, and start making memories today!
