Korek Moutain Resort Tea

 Day 8 Continues at the Korek Mountain Resort.

KOREK MOUNTAIN | https://www.korekmountainresort.com

This is the only luxury mountain resort at the altitude of 2000 meter in Iraq, Kurdistan.

2 miles up the mountain to the resort, over 12 minutes by tram.

Being up at this resort was cool.  We had to be careful, it was very icy, but we did all stay upright.

It was cold and I was ready for some tea.

This giant keg was the drink hut. My friend and I got tea.

This tea was nice. It was not as strong as some of the other teas I have had, but it was okay.

This tea was okay.  Nothing real special.  Thankfully the tea is super inexpensive.  And it did warm me up.

We watched the cable cars while we enjoyed our tea.  While we were watching them the power went off and the cars stopped, just hanging there.  I was glad I was not on it at the time!!  It thankfully did not last long and soon the cars were moving again. Whew...

  

The views are just incredible. 

On Korek we could see Hindren Mountain, Zozik Mountain, and Bradasot Mountain.

This gives you an idea of where I am in the world.

It was cold and icy up on the mountain.  My friend gave me a coat to borrow, as I had not brought one.  We played a bit in the snow.  

I love seeing this man carry his tea kettle!!  I am telling you- there is tea everywhere!!  Men are always drinking it.

This group of 5 or 6 guys appeared to be leaving after having a tea picnic on Korek Mountain.

The cable car is 4 km long and is the first and the longest ride in the region. It starts from approximately 650 meter from the sea level and reaches to the top station of Korek Mountain at an altitude of 2000 meter.  It takes 12 minute ride.

We then headed to a amusement park.

We rode this fun train around.  I loved the views of the cannon below.

The photo to the left is looking down into Bekhal, the town we would go to next.  The photo on the right is at Bekhal looking up at the train tracks we were just on.

We then rode these toboggan like ride.  This one was a bit more scary for me.  I controlled the speed...I was not sure what to expect.  My friends laughed at me because I went super slow.

I saw my friend on the ride.  This is the point where he lost his keys, lol.  But, they did find them after about 20 minutes of looking.

These women were wearing some of the traditional dresses.

Things I learned about Kurdish Tea while I was in Iraq:

Tea here is called Chai.  It is a black Ceylon tea with cardamon.

A teahouse is the second most visited place in Iraq, just after the mosques.

Tea is the number one drink in Iraq.

There are tea houses all over Erbil and some are for men only.  The men sit around- drink tea, play games, talk business, and politics.  

Tea houses in Iraq are called chai khana.

It is becoming more acceptable to women to be allowed in some teahouses.

Iraqis are said to drink 1 pound of tea a month.  In 2021, Iraq was the largest importers of Ceylon tea.

Tea is for rich and poor, old and young.  It is a part of the culture in Iraq.

In the 19th century the governor of Bhagdad turned all the coffee houses into tea houses.

But tea really gained it's popularity when the British army came to Iraq.

 I've heard that people will start their day with Kurdish tea too.  That if they don't they believe they will often have headaches and become dizzy.

If you buy tea along the streets here it is less and .50

Iraqi tea is served in a small cup made of glass called “Istikan” and this word means “East Tea

Can”.  In other countries, I have heard them called Tulip cups, because of the shape.

 Tea is made in a Samovar.  The bottom kettle has the hot water, the top, smaller kettle has the stronger tea concentrate.  You would fill the cup up with around 3/4 of the black tea and then the rest with hot water.  You try to fill the cup up as full as you can.

When tea is served it comes on a saucer, with the cup and a spoon.  The spoons can stick together.  If a man receives two spoons that means he will have two wives.

To cool the tea, some pour the tea in the saucer to drink it.  Some also keep the teacup in the saucer and lift the saucer up to drink from the cup, since the tea can be so hot.

There are a few things that can be added to this tea...a cinnamon stick, a rose bud, saffron, and even a  tea perfume.

Tea is served with dates, sunflower seeds, pistachios, cookies, and other sweet treats. 

The teaspoon is left in the cup when the tea is poured, if left out they think of you as inferior to them.  (I also read that you never serve the spoon in the cup.  It all depends on what part of Iraq you are from.  When served in Erbil, it always had a spoon in the cup when it was brought to me. Yet, when I went to a Kurdish home, he made the tea without the spoon in it.)

People love the clinking of the teaspoon along the teacup as the sugar is stirred in.  The clinking sounds are heard all over shops and bazars.

You will find kiosks of tea sellers on the side of streets, in the bazar, and all along the roads in villages.

Picnics always includes tea.  People will grill their food over wood and charcoal and then put the kettle on.  Some say tea over wood or charcoal is the best.

If you go to someone's house, it is rude for them not to offer tea.  And you usually will have at least 2 cups.

1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV

10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.