Are you looking for an authentic Turkish tea recipe to present to your loved ones? As the name implies, Turkish tea is popular in Turkey and consumed as a regular soothing drink like coffee.
You can make traditional Turkish tea using a pot, a kettle, or a boiler—whatever you have readily available. However, you might need a step-by-step guide to get the most authentic and accurate cup of Turkish tea.
Therefore, we have created this article on how to make Turkish tea at home. This guide contains instructions and a few questions that most people want answered related to the brewing process of Turkish tea. So, read the article till the end and become an authentic Turkish tea maker overnight.
What Ingredients Will You Need to Make a Turkish Tea Glass?
So, you might have started to guess what goes inside the teapot to make proper Turkish tea, right? Traditional Turkish tea usually involves black tea leaves.
If it is authentic Turkish tea, it has a reddish hue once boiled.
If you can get your hands on genuine Turkish tea, our recommendation is “Çaykur Tiryaki Çayı.“ However, if this is impossible, you can use any black tea lying around.
Also, utilizing bottled water or water that doesn’t contain lime is preferable, as lime may affect the taste of the tea, as will the use of a porcelain teapot.
The procedure you follow and how you brew black tea are essential and differ for different black tea recipes. However, for brewing this particular tea, you will need these primary ingredients: boiling water first, black tea leaves, and some sugar cubes.
Using a Traditional Turkish Kettle – the Double Boiler
Follow the steps below to make a cup of Turkish tea the traditional way using a kettle:
Step 1: Preparing a Double Boiler and Boiling Water
To begin with, you will require two separate kettles.
Fill one pot with about 1-2 inches of water, as it will go to the bottom to boil. To prevent leakage, ensure the water level is below the bottom of the other pot.
Place the teapot on the stove and the second teapot on top of the larger pot.
If you are one of those people who drink tea often, you might think the brewing process is similar to that of other black teas. However, a specific method distinguishes Turkish tea from the rest.
To brew Turkish tea, you will need 2-3 cups (the recommended amount is 600 ml) of boiling water. It is essential to note that the precise amount of boiling water would greatly vary depending upon the heat and number of people you intend to serve.
Step 2: Add Tea Leaves to the Upper Pot
Once you see that the water has boiled, remove it from the heat.
It is now time to add tea leaves (we recommend using Rize tea leaves). So, add the tea leaves to fill your upper teapot with up to two tablespoons (again, this will vary depending on the amount of water).
Leave it to warm up until you can smell the aroma of tea coming off as steam. It will smell like slightly toasted tea leaves.
Step 3: Pour the Boiled Water
Once the tea leaves emit an aroma, pour the boiled water into the middle of your kettle. Now, place the kettle on high heat.
When the water and tea leaf infusion start to boil, gradually reduce the heat so it does not spill. Wait for around 12-15 minutes before serving.
Step 4: Serving Turkish Tea
Before you drink Turkish tea, a little patience is required to serve it traditionally. Turkish people have unique tea cups for their drinks.
In Turkey, people usually have thin-waisted glasses made of very delicate glass material for drinking tea. The same is also widely used for coffee.
For serving Turkish tea, fill the glass to about 2/3rds and serve it on a small plate to help support it with one hand. Moreover, some people like to drink sweet tea, so it is a good practice to place sugar cubes in a separate bowl for those interested. Serve this with a tiny stirrer or a spoon.
Using a Large Pot
So far, we have seen the recipe for making Turkish chai using a traditional Turkish kettle. That is because this is the conventional way of making it.
However, we are here to rescue you if you do not have one and still want to try Turkish tea.
Step 1: Fill the Pot With Water
Firstly, it’s vital to choose a clean kettle. If there’s any residue or buildup already inside, rinse it off, as it can affect the flavor of your tea. In addition, always use fresh, cold water to fill your kettle. Water that you have previously boiled that has been sitting in the kettle can taste flat or stale.
Step 2: Pouring Water
Next, fill the kettle with the water you need for your tea. Be sure not to overfill it, as this can cause the water to spill, possibly damaging your kettle. Depending on the size of your kettle, you may need to adjust the amount of water you use. It’s also important to consider the temperature of the water. Typically, you can brew black tea with water around 200°F (93°C).
Step 3: Put Tea Leaves
As a general rule, use 1-2 teaspoons of loose tea leaves per cup of water. One bag is usually enough for one cup of water if you’re using tea bags. Next, use a strainer or infuser to hold the tea leaves. Doing this will prevent loose tea leaves from ending up in your cup.
Then, steep the tea for the right amount of time. The time you steep your tea depends on the type of tea you’re making and your personal preference. Generally, you should steep black tea for 3-5 minutes. If you steep the tea for too long, it can become bitter or astringent. Then, remove the tea leaves once the tea has steeped for the desired amount of time. Leaving the tea leaves in the water can result in an over-infused, bitter cup of tea.
Finally, serve and enjoy your tea. Pour the tea into a Turkish cup or a regular teapot and add sugar or other flavorings to taste. With some practice, you can make the perfect Turkish cup of tea the next time.
For those of you who do not like the taste of a typical tea, you have the choice of drinking flavored ones. You can also buy Earl Grey tea, the most consumed flavored tea, from your nearest supermarket. Use it with the exact instructions described above to achieve the Turkish taste.
Turkish Tea Variations
We have listed above the most basic way of making Turkish tea, specifically the method that brings about a different flavor profile than other black tea recipes.
However, it is essential to note that Turkish tea typically has additives like apples and spices.
Turkish Tea With a Twist
You will need black tea leaves or tea bags:
- Water
- Dried apple pieces
- Cinnamon Sticks
- 1-2 Cloves
- Two pots
Step 1: Boil Water
With this method, it is best to use the pot method we mentioned above
Boil some fresh water. Turkish tea tastes better when water with no lime is used.
Step 2: Add Flavors
Add the desired amount of dried apple pieces, 1- 2 cloves, and a cinnamon stick for each person to the second pot, and pour the hot water from the first pot over this mixture. Then bring it to a boil and steep the tea for 10-15 minutes.
Step 3: Add Tea
After 15 minutes, add your black tea bags or about 3-4 tablespoons of black tea (1 per person) and steep for 3 -5 minutes, depending on how strong you want the tea.
Step 4: Serve
You can now serve the tea in glass mugs native to Turkey.
Sugar cubes are typically the sweetener of choice in Turkey; however, you can use a sweetener of your choice, like honey.
Additionally, this can be served chilled over ice or hot, depending on your preference.
What Can You Serve With Turkish Tea?
Typically, Turkish tea goes with side dishes. Here are some choices.
A typical Turkish tea can go well with any Turkish recipe. However, to name a few traditional dishes, you must go with kebabs (a meaty Turkish dish), doner, shish, or kofte.
Additionally, you may also choose to make a Mücver, Borek, or Turkish Pide. All of these dishes taste great when served alongside a hot teapot.
Wrapping It Up
You must always consider the traditional drinks on the side when having Turkish lunch or dinner. Like several other cultures around the globe, Turkish people prefer having a hot tea pot with every meal.
Thus, this guide will help you cater to a perfect Turkish atmosphere with a homemade glass of Turkish tea. So, read the upper part of the article to follow the complete recipe for making a Turkish tea glass by yourself and save money.
Also, remember to surprise your friends, as they will love it. Afiyet Olsun – Enjoy your tea!
