Are you a coffee fan? Or is "chai" your cup of tea?
Then Turkey is the right place for you. There is nothing like the smell of freshly ground Turkish coffee cooking in a traditional copper pot called a "cezve" (jez-VAY'), or a cup of freshly-brewed black Turkish tea in a traditional tulip-shaped glass.
In Turkey, coffee and tea are not only hot beverages, they are an integral part of the culture. There are many daily routines surrounding the preparation and drinking of coffee and tea.
If you want to learn more, check out this article about Turkish tea and coffee culture.For example, offering a cup of tea is a customary gesture of friendship and good will. Visitors must drink at least two glasses if they don't want to offend their host. It's often hard to say "no".
Did you know Turkish coffee is used to tell fortunes and young ladies are evaluated by their potential spouse's family on their Turkish-coffee making skills? This is only the beginning of all the culture and lore that goes along with coffee and tea in Turkey.
For more on Middle Eastern tea and coffee:
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