How to Make Turkish Tea: A Guide to Perfectly Brewed Tea

Turkish tea, also known as çay, is an essential part of Turkish culture.

It is served in every Turkish household and is integral to social gatherings.

Drinking tea is considered a sign of hospitality and is often offered to guests as a way of showing appreciation.

In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to make Turkish tea at home.

What are the Ingredients of Turkish Tea:

Turkish tea is typically made from two main ingredients: high-quality tea leaves and water.

Sometimes sugar may also be added to taste. The tea leaves are brewed in a unique double teapot called a çaydanlık, with the strong tea in the top pot and hot water in the bottom pot to dilute the tea to the desired strength.

The resulting tea is usually served in small tulip-shaped glasses, a popular and traditional drink in Turkey.

To make Turkish tea, you will need the following ingredients:

• Turkish black tea leaves (loose or in bags)
• Water
• Sugar (optional)

Turkish black tea leaves are an essential ingredient when making Turkish tea.

The tea leaves are grown on Turkey's eastern Black Sea coast, known for its humid and rainy climate.

The tea leaves are picked in the spring and summer, and they are processed using a unique method.

The leaves are rolled and dried in the sun, then oxidized for several hours.

The resulting tea has a robust and bold flavor, which is perfect for making Turkish tea.

Water is the second most important ingredient when making Turkish tea. The quality of the water can affect the taste of the tea.

Using filtered or spring water when making Turkish tea is recommended.

What do Turkish people use to brew their tea?

You will also need the following equipment to make Turkish tea:

• A teapot with a long spout
• A kettle
• A small plate or saucer
• Tea glasses (Turkish Tea Set) 

The teapot is an essential piece of equipment when making Turkish tea. The teapot should be made of metal or glass, and it should have a long spout.

The long spout allows you to pour the tea into the glass without spilling.

The kettle is used to boil the water. It is recommended to use a stainless steel kettle with a whistle. The whistle will alert you when the water is boiling.

The small plate or saucer makes the "tasting tea." Tasting tea is a small amount of tea poured into the plate or saucer to ensure the tea is the correct strength.

Tea glasses are an essential part of serving Turkish tea. The glasses are small and delicate, and they have a curved shape. The curved shape allows you to hold the glass without burning your fingers.

The glasses are usually straightforward but can be decorated with gold or silver designs.

How to make Turkish tea step by step:

Now that you have all the ingredients and equipment, let's start with the step-by-step instructions:

1. Fill the kettle with water and put it on the stove to boil.

2. Once the water is boiled, pour some into the teapot to warm it up, then discard the water.

3. Add one spoon of tea leaves per cup into the Copper Kettle. You can add more or less depending on how strong you like your tea.

4. Pour the boiled water into the teapot. The amount of water should be double the amount of tea leaves.

5. Put the teapot on the stove on low heat and wait for the tea to steep. It takes about 10-15 minutes for the tea to steep. Keep an eye on the teapot, and make sure the water doesn't boil.

6. When the tea is ready, pour a little bit into a small plate or saucer. This is called the "tasting tea." It is used to make sure the tea is the right strength.

7. Pour the tea into the tea glasses, filling them up to about one-third of the glass. Then, add boiled water to the glass until it is full.