Seven Fascinating Facts About Turkish Coffee

Drinking coffee has become a daily ritual for many of us – the coffee lovers, who cannot start off their day without having their dose of the “magical” potion. Alongside being a beverage, the Turkish coffee also represents a culture. It is renowned for being a reason for people to start chatting, and the way it is made and the conventional manner in which it is served also make it highly popular around the world. Some people also like to add in to the mix the rumors revolving around having a cup of Turkish coffee.

We are sharing with you the 7 facts about the Turkish coffee that you did not know:

1. The Turkish coffee does not originate in Turkey
The first place where this coffee was utilized as a beverage is probably Yemen, which dates back to the 15th century. Evidences suggest that it then spread from Yemen to Cairo and Mecca. According to famous Ottoman historians of those times, the first coffee shop was opened in Constantinople in 1640. The name is derived from the Arabic word “qahwah”. In Turkish culture, it is also perceived that the word kahve (coffee) is derived from the word “kahvaltı” (breakfast) and the exact meaning of the word could be perceived as “sub-coffee”.

2. The coffee’s quality is determined based on its cream
If you want to know whether or not you are drinking Turkish coffee of high quality, simply looking at the cream on the top side of the cup will be enough. Turkish coffee is made of a special kind of soft and velvet cream and it is thanks to this cream that the coffee remains hot for a fairly long time.

3. The water has its own purpose
The Turkish coffee is usually served with a little cup of water. Have you ever wondered why it is served with the water alongside it? It is because drinking some water before the coffee intake enables you to feel the coffee’s taste in a better way. Also, drinking water after coffee will help clear your palate from unfiltered debris left off from the coffee.

4. Turkish delight helps to make the whole ritual a better experience
It is considered to be a complete experience when the shape of the glass, the color of the coffee and a Turkish delight in the tray are all present in order to make up a complete picture. Turkish delight is especially recommended for those who prefer to drink coffee without sugar as it adds flavor to the bitter Turkish coffee. There is a widely used saying in Turkish associated with Turkish coffee, as “Eat sweet, talk sweet”.

5. Mother-in-laws evaluate and judge it
Warning to new brides: Your potential Turkish mother-in-law possesses the right to evaluate and judge you based on the way you make and serve the Turkish coffee. In fact, in many families it is perceived as the first test of the new bride – the bride makes coffee for her mother-in-law, and then the evaluation is done based on its quality. Therefore, try to do her best to avoid being embarrassed and to deviate from potential gossips.

6. Brides tend to add salt to the coffee
In the Turkish tradition, salt was added to the coffee for the purpose of determining the masculinity of the future groom. Using salt, the potential bride express their feelings towards the groom. Adding an excessive amount of salt to the coffee indicates that the girl has no interest in the boy, while a medium amount of salt indicates that the boy is viewed as a good groom candidate. On the other hand, a minimum amount of salt indicates that the boy has a great chance and that the girl is ready to marry. The boy proves his masculinity and expresses his willingness to marry the girl by drinking all of the salty coffee.

7. Turkish coffee is under the protection of UNESCO
Turkish coffee is included in UNESCO’s intangible Cultural Heritage list. The decision of inclusion was taken at the 8th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, in 2013.

They say that if people do their job with pleasure, they will enjoy it for a lot longer. As a tradition from the past, when a guest comes to one’s house, coffee and Turkish delight are served. This sweet tradition has been going on for ages.

And it is quite enjoyable: with hot Turkish coffee and a few pieces of Turkish delight (plain or with walnut), you are filled with some great energy!
Enjoy your coffee while browsing EverythingTurkish!