If you think the British love tea, wait until you meet the Turks. In Turkey, tea — or çay (pronounced “chai”) — isn’t just a drink. It’s a ritual, a social glue, and an expression of warmth. From breakfast tables to business meetings, tea is everywhere. But Turkish tea isn’t brewed in a single teapot like in the UK — it has its own unique method and rhythm. Here’s how Turks make their famous çay, step by step.
☕ 1. The Double Teapot — Çaydanlık
Turks use a special two-tiered teapot called a çaydanlık.
The bottom pot holds boiling water, and the smaller pot on top holds the tea leaves. This setup allows you to control the strength of your tea — a key part of Turkish tea culture.
🌿 2. Choosing the Right Tea
Most Turkish households use black tea grown in the Rize region, on the lush slopes of the Black Sea. The leaves are rich, full-bodied, and slightly earthy — perfect for brewing a deep red tea that Turks call demli çay (strong tea).
🔥 3. Brewing the Tea
Here’s where the magic happens:
- Fill the bottom teapot with water and bring it to a boil.
- Add a few tablespoons of loose-leaf black tea into the top teapot.
- Pour some boiling water from the lower pot into the top pot — just enough to steep the leaves.
- Place the teapot stack back on the stove on low heat.
- Let the tea gently brew for 10–15 minutes.
Turks don’t rush tea. The slow brewing lets the aroma and color fully develop.
🍷 4. Serving the Tea — Always in a Glass
Turkish tea is never served in mugs. Instead, it’s poured into small, tulip-shaped glasses called ince belli bardak.
These glasses are designed to show off the tea’s rich amber color and keep it warm while allowing you to hold it comfortably.
Each person chooses how strong they want their tea:
- For strong tea (demli), pour more from the top pot.
- For lighter tea (açık), add more hot water from the bottom pot.
🍬 5. No Milk — Just Sugar
Unlike in Britain, Turks never add milk to their tea. It’s always served plain, sometimes with a sugar cube on the side.
In fact, drinking tea “without sugar” (şekersiz) is often seen as a sign of a true tea lover.
🫶 6. Tea and Hospitality
In Turkey, offering tea is an act of kindness. Whether you visit someone’s home, a shop, or even a mechanic’s garage, you’ll likely be offered a steaming glass of çay.
Refusing tea can even feel a little rude — it’s part of how Turks say “you’re welcome here.”
🌅 7. When to Drink Tea
Anytime is tea time in Turkey. But morning tea with simit (a sesame bagel-like bread) or afternoon tea shared with friends are the most beloved traditions. Many Turks drink 5–10 glasses a day — no exaggeration!
