Sahlab, a thick and rich mix of milk, sugar and spices, is a winter drink akin to a latte, and for Palestinian Christians, it has strong ties to the Christmas season. Though Shaheen grew up in California, her family"s stories of the holiday treat are rooted in the streets of Bethlehem, the birthplace of the Jesus and thus the holiday. "My mother remembers drinking sahlab in a Palestinian beverage stall after attending mass at the Church of Nativity," she said. When Shaheen"s mother married and moved to the US in 1970, she brought with her the recipe and tradition.