Sentence:  The beverages of the Turks were an interesting exception to their reputation for simple foods. While many writers mentioned the Turkish penchant for drinking “cleere water,” in light of the prohibitions against alcohol (although some writers, usually those who were more negatively inclined against the Turks, maintained that they were drunkards in secret), virtually all authors discussed the nonalcoholic drinks made by the Turks to replace alcohol, not only coffee, but also sweet refined drinks such as <WSD>sherbet</WSD>, a cold drink that usually included sugar, water, and a fruity or flowery flavoring. <WSD>Sherbet</WSD> was considered a delicacy, and it and other refined drinks were mentioned in detail by a number of travelers. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A traditional West and South Asian sweet drink prepared from fruits or flower petals.