Tea is something big in Turkey, with most of the population being a big fan of this drink. Tea is always a part not only of special occasions but even the most ordinary days. This drink is a favorite on hot summer days and on cold winter days alike.
A visit to friends or family will never be complete without tea. It is also the best way to relax and also goes well with a full breakfast.
History of Turkish Tea at a Glance
Compared to the thousands years of history of tea, Turkish tea is comparatively young. Some sources state that Turks started consuming and trading tea in 400 B.C. However, the thing certain is that tea became common in Turkey only during the 1900s onwards.
The very first shot at growing tea on Turkish soil happened between 1888 and 1892 in Bursa. It wasn’t a success because this region of the country is ecologically insufficient for growing tea. The parliament passed a law in 1924 about growing tea in the east of the Black Sea region.
During the late 30s, 70 tons of black tea seeds were imported from Georgia to begin nurseries in the region. An additional law was passed in 1940 to support the farmers and protect their rights, further boosting tea cultivation in the region.
Today, there are 767 million square meters of land used for growing tea, and is the second most consumed drink in the country next to water.
Serving Turkish Tea
Turks use special see-through curved tea glasses with a tiny plate below to make it easier to serve and carry. With the steeped tea placed on the top pot, it is important to be careful with how much you pour into the glass.
A quarter of a glass is considered normal, less is light (açık), and half of a glass is very strong (koyu or demli). Of course, you can also add water to fill rest of the glass but just make sure it is not all the way up.
You also need to leave 1 cm of space at the top for the drinker to get a sip without burning his or her fingers or spilling the drink. The traditional Turkish tea glasses also don’t come with a handle like the regular Western cup. It means you need to hold the glass from the top with your index finger and thumb.
If you are inviting over some guests over, you can use a bit more water and tea than required. It is expected for the host to supply tea depending on what the guests’ desire. You can never say that you don’t have any tea left in the Turkish culture.
If you are a guest, always remember the renowned Turkish hospitality. Just like other treats, the host will insist you have one more. To avoid this, you might apply a similarly traditional way and place your tea spoon on top of the tea glass right after finishing your tea. It is a polite way of saying that you are grateful but you already had enough.
Buy Turkish tea online and see for yourself why this drink is something you can never say no to!
