tea and coffee, Istanbul

If there's something that's typical of Turkey - coffee aside - is cai. cai is tea, and tea here is delicious. Tea is served and drunk very sweet - most people add even some extra sugar (I'm so Turkish in this!).

The best type of tea I found in istanbul is elma cai - which is apple tea. It's very tasty and refreshing. regulat tea is great, too - but elma cai is peculiar.

When you have just completed a purchase at a bazaar, take a few minutes and enjoy a small glass of tea with the proprietor. It's only polite, it warms the soul, and it tastes mighty nice. A lump of sugar, a little lemon, and you are set.

I love strong coffee so I really love Turkish coffee. It is the perfect way to end a meal, particulary if accompanied by some Baklava.
If you want to buy some coffee to take home with you I would recommend Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi (Tahmis Caddesi 66, very near the Spice Bazaar). Smells lovely and tastes even better!

After having your meal in Istanbul, you will be asked if you would like to have something to drink.. Many restaurants are offering Tea and Turkish coffee services at the end of the dinner free of charge.. So you shall enjoy the taste of the Turkish coffee..

Turkish coffee is well known through worldwide.. Though it tastes like an espresso, it has a different taste and smell..

There are many ways to make Turkish coffee, but most agree that the most reliable method for producing consistently good coffee is to fill a 250 ml. Finjan to within 2 1/2 cm. of it with cold water. To the water, before heating, add 4 or more heaping teaspoons of coffee. For moderately sweet coffee 2 tsp. of sugar should be added. The mixture should then be stirred and put on a high flame. As the mixture approaches a first boil it should be removed from the flame for a few moments to let the foam settle. One should take care not to let the mixture boil over, for this will result in a very messy stove top. :)

When you are in Istanbul or somewhere in Turkey, you will see many times you will be ofered something to drink such as tea, Turkish coffee or apple tea.. This comes from the hospitality of the Turks, you will not be asked to pay for them or you will not be asked to buy anything as you have been offered something.

Enjoy your drink..

At first I thought that people drink coffee here, because of the famous Turkish Coffee, but I was wrong. Instead it's TEA!
It's a trdition of drinking tea in Turkey I would say. Like in England or China, the tea drinking became part of the Turkish culture.
People drink tea here all day long, in the winter and in the summer, morning or evening! And the tea is really tasty, generally served in special small tea glass.
It is served at home, in any restaurant, at working places, and even in the street, at bus stations, and many many other places - ANYWERE!
I must tell you I have tasted so nice tea here!

Turkish coffee is another offering that people get from locals. It is a strong type of coffee, so it is served in small "fincan" 's. The sugar is added during preperation, so you may want to tell them how you want it done.

"sade" - no sugar
"az sekerli" - very little sugar
"orta sekerli" - medium
"çok sekerli" - with lots of sugar

If you are given the coffee without them asking your preference, it is most likely to be medium.

DO NOT stir or mix the coffee in any way. Don't drink till the end or you will end up with a sandy texture.

Turkish coffee is also used for fortune-telling. This is done by placing the saucer over the "fincan" and turning it upside down. After it cools down the fortune-teller reads from the sediment left at the bottom of the "fincan".

Tea is an unbreakable habbit in Turkey. It is also a way of socilaising. You will be offered tea while shopping, waiting, or just for conversation. Although it is not extremely rude not to accept, it still makes them feel self concious. It does not mean that you have to buy something or that you absolutely have to talk to them. It is just a way of welcoming you.

Turkish tea may be strong for most foreigners. In that case ask for "açýk çay" (ach-uhk chay) meaning light tea.

One of the hardest things for western tourists to accept is the offer of tea by carpet merchants and other stall owners - particularly if you have no intention of buying! There is an automatic assumption that the merchant is going to try and get you to sign your life away. There's no doubt that there are some who would like to do this, but generally, if you are honest from the beginning ('I don't want to buy anything') there are merchants who simply want to talk. I met both types - the unscruplulous and the openly friendly. With the former you can make a quick(ish) exit, with the latter, an hour or so of perfectly enjoyable discussion. Create the time - it can add an extra 'something' to your time in Istanbul.

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Tea drinking is very essential during the day time. Seeing old men sitting together outside a tea house is very common. Playing a game is a sign of activity.