Turkish Tea (Çay): A Taste from Turkey will Warm You

When you explore Turkey, stunning bazaars and locals enjoying Turkish coffee might be your first encountered. However, you might be surprised to notice that Turkish people commonly start their day with freshly brewed tea, called chai (çay), and they snip it throughout the day. Although coffee is indispensable, Turkish tea is consumed more frequently during the day. Served black in tulip-shaped tea cups that fit in the palm of your hand, Turkish tea stands out with its traditional brewing method.

Legend has it that tea made its way to what is now Turkey in the 5th century via Silk Road traders, who transported chests of loose-leaf tea from China along with exquisite silks. Initially, tea was a rarity, used by a select few and mainly in perfumeries. Over time, it found its way onto breakfast tables and grew into a popular beverage nationwide. The 20th century saw a significant boost in tea consumption when the government promoted tea cultivation in the Rize region along the Black Sea coast.

Today, tea production thrives in various parts of Turkey and has become deeply ingrained in the social fabric. Whether you're in shops, cafés, restaurants, offices, homes, or bazaars, offering tea is a hallmark of Turkish hospitality and genuine friendliness. So, if you're waiting at the hairdresser's or browsing for pottery and a salesperson offers you a cup, it's their way of making you feel welcome. As a tea enthusiast myself, I relished this traditional Turkish tea not just at breakfast but at every stop during our tour. I even learned the brewing technique from our guide and brought home a couple of packages to enjoy.

How to Brew a Turkish Tea

To have a well tasted Turkish tea, starting with a high-quality black Rize tea would be a good option. To check the tea's quality, place a few leaves in a cup of water; if the color changes slowly, it's a good indicator. If the color changes too quickly, consider trying a different brand. It's said that using distilled water enhances the tea's clean and crisp taste, which is deep, rich, and smooth with a slight bitterness balanced by subtle sweetness.

This unique flavor is achieved through a special brewing method using two stacked teapots called a çaydanlık. The bottom kettle boils the water, while the top kettle brews the concentrated black tea. The amount of tea leaves you add to the smaller, upper kettle depends on how many cups you want to serve-typically, one tablespoon (or a tea bag) is enough for 4-6 small cups. The design allows the tea leaves to steep perfectly in the top kettle while the boiling water stays hot in the bottom one.

If you don't have a Turkish teapot, you can use any two tea kettles or stackable saucepans-one smaller and one larger-to achieve a similar effect.

Serving Style of Turkish Tea

Serving Turkish tea is as much about tradition as it is about taste. To start, use a sieve to fill your teacups about a quarter to a third full with the concentrated tea mixture. Then, top off each cup with boiling water from the larger kettle. You can adjust the tea's strength by varying the amount you pour from the smaller pot. Over time, you'll find the perfect balance for your preference-the less brewed tea you use, the lighter the color and milder the flavor, and vice versa. It might take a bit of practice to get it just right.

Turkish tea is often presented in special tulip-shaped glasses designed to be held by the rim, which protects your fingertips from the heat. The unique shape also helps keep the tea warm and showcases its rich color. These petite glasses are traditionally served with sugar cubes and sweet treats on the side.

Snacks goes well with Turkish tea

No cup of Turkish tea is complete without a delectable snack to enhance the experience. Two traditional treats that harmonize wonderfully with chai are baklava and delight.

Baklava is a luscious pastry consisting of thin layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts like pistachios or walnuts, all sweetened with honey or syrup. Its rich sweetness and flaky texture provide a delightful contrast to the robust, slightly bitter notes of Turkish tea.

Turkish Delight, or lokum as it's known locally, is a soft, chewy confection made from sugar and starch. Often flavored with rosewater, lemon, or various fruit essences, and sometimes studded with nuts, these bite-sized sweets offer a subtle sweetness that complements the tea without overwhelming it.

Enjoying these snacks alongside your tea not only satisfies your sweet cravings but also immerses you in an authentic Turkish culinary tradition. Whether you're sipping tea at a bustling bazaar or in the comfort of your own home, pairing it with baklava or Turkish delight elevates the experience to a new level of enjoyment.