Turkish Tea

Tea is one of the most popular drink beverages in Turkey. The Turkish tea is served in thin and transparent glasses in order to show the color of the tea distinctly. Well-made Turkish tea should be crystal clear and of a deep mahogany- red hue. Indian tea, being stronger in flavor, does not produce such a rich color without becoming undrinkable.

Turkish tea is mostly grown in Rize, which is a province on the eastern Black Sea coast that has a mild climate with high precipitation and fertile soil. The water used for tea is almost as important as the tea itself. Chlorinated, hard and other poor quality waters will result in cloudy tea and impair the flavor. The best water for tea is fresh spring water. A popular addition to tea is the grated rind of the bergamot, a variety of lime grown in Antalya, which is a province on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. A small pinch of this added to the dry tea will give a delicious distinctive flavor and an unforgettable memory of the taste of the Turkish tea.