Çaydanlık on the asphalt

On the road in the middle of nowhere: Turkish black tea - or simply ‘çay’ - is as important in Turkey as morning coffee is in other countries. But beware: tea is not just conjured out of a tea bag here! No, there is a whole tea ceremony here, and it starts with the Çaydanlık, the magic tea kettle.

This two-tiered thing ensures that you can drink your tea just the way you like it: strong or light. It gets even fancier with a samovar that looks like a cross between a teapot and a steam engine - it doesn't get any hotter than this!

In Turkey, tea is more than just liquid in a glass. It is a way of life, a reason to sit down and chat - whether with friends, neighbours or even strangers. The small tulip-shaped glasses are the icing on the cake, as they allow you to see whether the tea is the perfect deep red colour.

So, if you're offered a glass of çay in Turkey, take it. It could be the start of a long, cordial conversation or just a moment of pure relaxation. And who knows? They might even serve you the tea with a little anecdote about the art of drinking it properly! | Turkey