Izmir Local Customs

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Everyone in Turkey drinks tea day and night! I met a woman that drinks 10 glasses every day!! After two days I started to drink it too because I liked the small clear glasses that they serve it. I’ve been told that the deep red color of the tea called tavsan kany (rabbit blood!), another funny Turkish name (they like to give funny names for foods, sweets etc).

The Turkish tea is a form of black tea that is produced on the eastern Black Sea coast. In some tourist shops they serve tea to the customers but you have to know that most of the times this is not tea but apple juice! :)

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Turkish coffee is a typical coffee in Balkan countries, in middle east and north Africa. The preparation is to boil some finely powdered roast coffee beans in a small pot, sometimes with sugar, and serving it into a small cup (like espresso in Italy), where the dregs settle.

Usually it served with cold water and a lokum. Watch out! Don’t drink it all! The thick layer of sludgy grounds at the bottom of the cup is left behind.

Traditionally, the pot is made of copper and has a wooden handle. It’s a good idea to bring back home a traditional small pot for Turkish coffee. Very typical local thing and useful too. I found many of them in the bazaar.

Shoes’ cleaning in the streets! I remember this custom from old greek movies but it’s really fun to see it in Turkey in our days. People still like to have clean black shoes. In Greece we prefer to buy new ones every 2 months! How stupid we are sometimes….

Anyway, another Turkish custom about shoes is this:
If you are invited into a Turkish house, remember to put off your shoes just outside or immediately inside the door. And of course have to put off your shoes when entering a mosque.

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Our band had flown into an air base, then was being transported by bus into the city of Izmir. Seeing a large gathering of people, and a few camels, our bus driver pulled over to allow us the opportunity to see what was going on, and to perhaps get a few unusual photos. We were fascinated by the camels, having only seen them in American zoos prior to this. They appeared to be loaded down as if part of a desert caravan, but communications difficulties prevented us from learning what was really happening.

One thing was clear - these guys loved their animals, and treated them with more affection than I show my dog! Strangest of all was the sight of one man sharing a cigarette with his beast. Yes, the camel was smoking a cigarette. If you look closely at one of the photos attached, you will see the cigarette smoke coming out the camel's mouth.

When i saw this small coffee shop , i felt like i came before. I went this summer there and of course they had the most nice turkish coffee i drank in Izmir. It is near the central entrance of Kemeralti Bazzar , but i dont remember the name of this shop. I was so exciting that i was talking photos from every corner of the shop!:)

This is a very old custom, which we also had in Greece, but now it disappeared. But in Turkey still you may see very often on the roads people that they clean shoes. This photo is from Kizlaragazi han, the old Bazzar of Izmir.

Cay (Tea): Cay is the most preferred drink of the Turks along with the traditional Turkish coffee. It is almost everywhere, every time, either during daytime or in the evening. Turkish tea is served in delicate, small clear glasses to show the deep red color, called tavsan kany (rabbit blood)..

Ayran: A delicious drink made out of yogurt, diluted with water, salted, and must be served cool. It is very much valued by Turks and is the perfect accompaniment to kebap.

Raki, the national alcoholic drink of Turks has a high degree alcohol and should not be consumed quickly. Most people drink it by mixing it with water. Colorless raký turns milky white when mixed with water. They fill 1/3 of their glass with raký then add water and finally ice. Ice is never put in the glass first. If raký is met with ice before water, it crystallizes and the taste changes. Some people drink raký straight. In addition the raký should be cold. It is customary to eat meze (various foods served in small plates) while drinking raký. Raki is also famous in Crete island (Greece) and it is server with the same way.

It is known that for muslims alcohol is forbidden, for their religion.

Known as turkish delight, "Lokum" is a sweet made from sugar, water and starch. A good Lokum keeps its freshness at least six months. As they say good Lokum won't make you thirsty, even after eating 8-10 pieces!!!! Perfect combination with turkish coffee.