“If the earth was a single state, Istanbul would be its capital.” Napoleon Bonaparte
This is not quite a tea quote, but it is one that reminds us that Istanbul has always been a city of international trade and commerce. What came as a surprise to me was that tea was a latecomer to Turkey, only becoming a widely consumed beverage in the 20th century in the aftermath of World War I. Coffee was an expensive import and tea was easily grown domestically on the eastern Black Sea coast which has the requisite fertile soil, mild climate and high precipitation. Turkish tea is usually prepared in two stacked kettles, and served in small tulip-shaped glasses which display the amber richness of the tea. Once you take a sip, you will be forever on an adventure.
