Mineral water, fresh lemon and a pinch of salt: the recipe, the uncertain story behind the name and how to enjoy it in moderation.
What is a Churchill drink? It is a cold, fizzy drink made by mixing the naturally sparkling mineral water Turks call "soda" with freshly squeezed lemon juice and a pinch of salt. You will also see it spelled "Çörçil", and it is a common choice on hot days or after a heavy meal. Below we look at what goes into it, how it is made, what is said about its name and what to keep in mind about the salt.
What Is a Churchill Drink? Three Ingredients, One Glass
Yemek.com describes the Churchill as a cold drink made by combining mineral water and lemon juice, with salt added in most recipes. Acıbadem's health magazine Hayat calls it a sparkling mix of soda and lemon juice that people reach for to cool down, especially in summer, and Nefis Yemek Tarifleri describes it as a quick, cold drink born from soda meeting lemon.
The list is short, but each ingredient does a job. The mineral water brings the bubbles and a mineral taste, the lemon brings sourness and aroma, and the salt ties the two together with a faintly savoury finish. Writer Olga Kovalenko sums up the recipe in the same three words: soda, lemon, salt.
In Türkiye, "Soda" Means Mineral Water
To understand the drink you need to know what "soda" means in Turkish. According to the Turkish Wikipedia entry on mineral water (maden suyu), it is the water popularly called soda: groundwater from springs or wells with at least 250 ppm of total dissolved solids, whose fizz is not added afterwards but rises naturally from underground with carbon dioxide pressure.
That difference shows in the glass. Kovalenko notes that Churchill in Türkiye is usually made with naturally sparkling mineral water sold in small green bottles, which she describes as tasting "soft, almost sweet", and that versions made in London with local mineral water taste noticeably different. A sweetened fizzy soft drink, in other words, is not a stand-in.
How to Make a Churchill: Ingredients and Order
Recipes agree on the ingredients and differ on the amounts. Yemek.com uses a bottle of mineral water, the juice of half a lemon and salt, with optional ice, mint or basil. Acıbadem Hayat suggests a glass of soda, the juice of half a freshly squeezed lemon and an optional pinch of salt. Nefis Yemek Tarifleri uses a bottle of mineral water, the juice of a whole lemon and a pinch of salt, in this order:
- Put the salt in the bottom of a tall glass.
- Pour the lemon juice over the salt.
- Add the mineral water.
- Finish with mint or basil leaves, if you like, and a few ice cubes.
So there is no single correct ratio. Half a lemon or a whole one, a pinch of salt or a little more: it comes down to taste. What every version shares is that it is drunk ice cold, before the fizz fades.
Where the Name Comes From: Nobody Knows for Sure
The origin of the name is not known for certain. Several Turkish and English sources link the drink to Izmir, and in particular to the Karşıyaka district, but the stories about the name do not agree. One ties it to the nickname of a local proprietor said to have served it to customers; another suggests it reflects how well known Winston Churchill was in Türkiye at the time. Nefis Yemek Tarifleri also says the name comes from a proprietor who made the drink, without saying who.
British food writer Nicola Miller, who set out to trace the drink, says plainly that she could not reach a definitive answer about its name. Kovalenko writes that nobody she asked seemed to know anything for sure, with accounts ranging from a kiosk owner inventing it to mothers having long made a similar mix for indigestion. We are not picking one of these stories here: on the evidence available, the origin remains open.
When People Drink It: Hot Days and Heavy Meals
Yemek.com says the Churchill is a favourite in hot weather, when people feel tired and after heavy meals, and Acıbadem Hayat also describes it as a summer cooler. Kovalenko adds that its role depends on where you are: in Türkiye it is mostly drunk for refreshment, especially along the coast, while in Turkish restaurants in London it tends to be ordered for hangovers and indigestion.
The Churchill on the Bozacının Yeri menu is made by mixing sparkling mineral water with freshly squeezed lemon juice and a pinch of salt. If you would rather have plain bubbles, there is Soda on the menu as well, and if you prefer sweet balanced with sour, Lemonade is the natural next step.
Salt and Lemon: Drinking It in Moderation
Because a Churchill contains salt, quantity matters. The World Health Organization recommends that adults keep sodium below 2,000 mg a day, which is equivalent to under 5 g of salt, or just under a teaspoon. Acıbadem Hayat also notes that people with blood pressure concerns should keep an eye on the salt, and a glass with less or no salt still gives you most of the refreshment.
The lemon deserves a note too. Acıbadem Hayat writes that, because of its acidity, drinking too much can irritate the stomach, trigger reflux and wear down tooth enamel, and it suggests one or two glasses a day as an upper limit. The same source advises people with stomach problems and pregnant women to check with a doctor first.
Churchill, Soda and Lemonade Compared
All three are refreshing, but they are not the same drink. Soda on its own is simply the mineral water, with its taste coming from minerals and fizz. A Churchill adds lemon and salt and, in its basic form, no sugar, so it tastes sour and lightly savoury. Lemonade balances the sourness of lemon with sweetness and does not have to be sparkling at all.
That makes the choice easy. After a heavy meal, when you do not want anything sweet, a Churchill fits well; for something sweet and fruity, lemonade; and for a glass with nothing added, plain soda.
Sources: Yemek.com (definition and recipe); Acıbadem Hayat (benefits and cautions); Nefis Yemek Tarifleri (recipe); Turkish Wikipedia (Maden suyu); World Health Organization (salt reduction fact sheet); Olga Kovalenko (Time to Cool Down With a Churchill); Suffolk News (Nicola Miller on the origins of the Churchill).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is in a Churchill drink?
The basic recipe is mineral water (called soda in Türkiye), freshly squeezed lemon juice and a pinch of salt, with optional ice, mint or basil.
Why is it called Churchill?
Nobody knows for sure. Stories range from a local proprietor's nickname to Winston Churchill's popularity in Türkiye, and writers who have researched it say they could not reach a definitive answer.
Does a Churchill contain sugar?
No. The basic recipes from Yemek.com, Acıbadem Hayat and Nefis Yemek Tarifleri contain no sugar; the taste comes from the sour lemon and the light saltiness.
What is the difference between a Churchill and lemonade?
A Churchill is made with mineral water, lemon and salt and is not sweet. Lemonade balances the sourness of lemon with sweetness.
Can you drink a Churchill every day?
In moderation. Acıbadem Hayat suggests one or two glasses a day at most, and the World Health Organization advises adults to keep salt under 5 g a day.
