In August we canceled the tea, since only 3 could make it. So, I combined Morocco and Turkey this month.
I went to my parents while my sisters were around and they helped me sample and test the Turkish Teas.
I ordered these vintage tea cups on Ebay for my birthday last year...my parents gave me money for my birthday. They are so dainty and cute!
I also found these sets of tea on Etsy. The powered drink came with a cup, saucer, and spoon. This was a fun way to get more cups and get some fun drink too. They had apple cinnamon, black tea, pineapple, and rose flavored teas.
'
Fun tea Turkey facts
Turkish tea, also known as çay
Tea is the most popular hot drink in Turkey.
The çaydanlık is what the tea is made in, like the Russian Samovar.
Below is my Turkish Tea pot and table. My friends lived in Turkey for a few years and brought it back with them. A few years ago, she put them up for sale at a benefit auction and I bought them. I just adore them.
Offering tea to guests is part of Turkish hospitality. Tea is most often consumed in households, shops, and kıraathane – social gatherings of men. Tea is also served at major events, such as weddings. If you are a guest in a home, tea is prepared by the landlady and you would typically have at least two cups of tea.
Tea is served with two cubes of sugar and often water.
There are two main tea times, one after breakfast and another one late in the afternoon usually around 5pm. Afternoon tea usually comes with pastries, cookies, and other snacks.
Turkey is also known for their apple tea. Many tourists say it's their favorite, but locals usually stick with the black tea. Apple tea, Elma Cayi, has fresh apples flavored with cinnamon, and clove (honey, and lemon zest-optional) Combine all ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil (Except honey if you are using honey) Simmer the tea for 15-20 minutes. Then serve...you can take out apples or leave them in. Guests can add honey if they like.
Turkish tea is grown on the eastern Black Sea coast of Turney. The powder is brewed with roasted black tea and served in distinctive small glasses known as "thin waist".
Cay is drank is small tulip shaped cups, "thin waist" so they can admire and marvel at the hue of the tea and consume it while it is still hot. You pick up the cup by the rim- so you don't burn your fingers.
This painting was done by a friends friend in the Middle East. It was given to me as a gift. I love it.
To make tea in the çaydanlık:
Put 1/4 C water in the small pot, with 5-6 T tea, (some rinse tea leaves first) cover the lid - this is where the leaves are brewed
fill the bottom pot with water
When it starts to boil let simmer, so that heat reached the tea leaves in the small pot
transfer more than half of the water in the large pot into the small tea pot and let it simmer another 10-15 minutes.
(Good indicator the tea is ready- the tea leaves have sunk to the bottom of the small pot)
To serve, fill the glass 1/4 of the way and then add boiled water from the bottom pot. You can strain the tea or not, some people don't like the leaves.
Put the amount of water in the cup depending if the person likes tea stronger or lighter.
Tea enthusiasts want hot tea- so since first warm the glass with the hot water.
Strong (dark) tea is called demli cay
Lighter tea is called a a acik cay
The traditional double tea pot allows the leaves to heat more slowly, bringing out better flavor and not risk over heating the leaves.
Turkish people never put milk in their tea, but they do like lemon wedges with their black tea. One article says that turks never use milk or lemon, but they do use beet sugar.
Turkish tea is rich in antioxidants and is believed to lower cholesterol levels and is also good for cardiovascular health.
Here are the teas that we are making ...
Ready to have my class come....
OHIO TEA COMPANY- A full-bodied black tea with spring buds from Rize Province, Turkey. Turkish tea has a unique taste: a drop of bitterness, slightly sour taste and astringent flavour. Traditionally served with beet sugar crystals or a couple of sugar lumps depending on your taste.
I did the apple tea in the first class and we thought it was a little bland, so for the 11am class we mixed it with the Filiz tea and I loved it.
Apple Tea is big in Turkey. So I put a pot of water on the stove, cut up apples, added lemons and cinnamon sticks. It reminded me of a fall mulled cider- but I missed the actual tea in it. I was very pleased when we added the black Turkish tea to it.
The instant tea was a big hit too. It is easy to make and does taste good, but for me it has too much sugar in it.
Hazer Baba and Ali Baba teas are both on Etsy and Amazon.
I did some on line research and found that beet sugar was used in Turkish Tea. I was able to get beet tea from Ohio Tea.
Beet Sugar
"This pure, unprocessed amber rock sugar will sweeten tea without distorting its flavor profile, pleasing both your sweet tooth and taste buds. Made in Belgium from natural sugar beets. Ingredients: Beet Sugar, Caramel Color. Tip: dissolve in boiling water to create a syrup base." Ohio Tea website
We tried the tea plain and then if sugar was needed we added beet sugar. I also had lemon wedges that could be added to the tea.
I preferred the tea plain rather than adding sugar or lemons.
I love these tea classes!! I get thrilled each month when people sign up and want to come learn about tea. This is one of my passions and I can't wait to have a shop to share it with more people.
Earl Grey loves to stop in and play with the guests...
Turkish Tea Pot- It was made in Turkey
My friends Crystal comes up for Columbus every month for these teas. So. much fun!!! We grew up in church together and I still go to church with her parents.
I found some Turkish treats and figs to serve too...
