Turkish Tea

Turkish Tea (Çay) is not just a drink; it is an invitation to conversation. Produced primarily on the eastern Black Sea coast in Rize, it is a finely ground black tea brewed to be robust and clear. It is served everywhere—from bazaars to boardrooms—in small, curved glasses that show off its 'rabbit's blood' (tavşan kanı) red color.

At a Glance

•Deep red and crystal clear.
•Strong enough to wake the dead.

When People Drink This

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Breakfast (Kahvaltı)

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After every meal

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Business meetings

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Ferry rides across the Bosphorus

Often part of rituals

Brewing in a double teapot (çaydanlık)Serving in tulip glassesAdding two sugar cubes (never milk)

Who Keeps This Drink Alive

People behind this drink

Çaycı

Tea Runner

The person who delivers tea on trays to shopkeepers and offices all day long.

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How This Drink Feels

The sensory experience

bold and astringent and sweet (if sugared), with notes of earthy and woody and fresh ending with a dry and crisp finish

“

Deep red and crystal clear.

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Strong enough to wake the dead.

Why This Drink Matters⌄

Turkey has the highest per capita tea consumption in the world. Tea is the lubricant of social life, offered as a gesture of hospitality that is almost impossible to refuse.

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How does this drink feel?

Select the moment that resonates with you most.

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Origin Story

Rooted in Rize

📍 TurkeyRize

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Perfect for the Holiday Season

Holiday Pick

Even during the holiday season, this drink finds its place — between long conversations, travel days, heavy meals, or quiet pauses away from the noise.

🧑‍👩‍👧 Everyone-friendly
🔥 Best served warm

Explore the Holiday Season

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Places & Everyday Rituals

Where this drink feels most at home

📍Every Turkish household📍Tea gardens (Çay Bahçesi)📍Grand Bazaar

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Moments Like This

Essential for a long Turkish breakfast or a deep conversation with a friend.

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Did You Know?

The tulip shape of the glass isn't just aesthetic; it keeps the tea hot at the bottom while the rim cools for sipping.

🎈Fun Facts

🤓Turks drink an average of 1,300 cups of tea per person per year.

Cultural Beliefs⌄

Conversation without tea is like a night sky without the moon.

How This Drink Is Made⌄

⏱15-20 minutes

📊medium

Ingredients

The Base

Turkish Black Tea Leaves
Water

Optional / Garnish

Sugar Cubes

Instructions

"The double teapot allows you to brew a very strong concentrate (dem) in the top pot using steam from the bottom water pot. "

1. Boil water in the bottom pot. 2. Add loose tea to the top pot and let it warm up over the steam. 3. Pour boiling water over the tea and let it steep for 15-20 minutes over low heat. 4. Pour concentrate into glasses and dilute with hot water to taste.