This is what upmarket çay looks like: presented on a tray complete with paper napkin and cookie. this is at Big Chef’s, Suadiye
Just been going through some of my photos and realize that çay is a recurrent theme around here: anytime of day, anyplace, a glass of Turkish tea is always welcome!
Here we have the quintessential glass of tea on the traditional white saucer decorated in red. I don’t know the symbolism of this red pattern – if anybody does, please let me know. I took this photo on the Kadıköy-Beşiktaş ferry. The tea on the ferries is legendary. You can compound your experience by having a tost or toasted cheese sandwich with it – then all your dreams will come true!
notice the colour: tavşan kanı or rabbit’s blood! This is how it should be….
You may not actually like Turkish çay, it may be an acquired taste for you, but there is something about the ritual and the spirit in which it is offered, that makes it an indelible mark of Turkish hospitality.
Personally, I love it! I love the whole thing about it! When you live here like I do, inevitably you acquire the whole kit: the çaydanlık or set of 2 kettles, a smaller one sitting pretty on top of the bigger one; a set of the seductive tulip-shaped glasses with the little saucers – honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way!
So here we have Turkish çay at its best!
KastamonuMarketçay…
tost and çay, Çiralı
Bosphorus çay
Grand Bazaarçay . Specifically, at Hasan & Adnan’s carpet shop
Friend Ayşe’steapartyçay
Bodrum çaycomplete with biscuits and decorative flower
Friend Ayşen’s çay
and here’s me with a glass of çay outside our house in Assos
Learn how to make çay, buy the glasses and SERVE!
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