People in many areas of the world, in particular the Middle East and Asia, have many cups of tea per day. Well, maybe more than many cups of tea, maybe jars of delicious tea. Tea is definitely the drink of choice in most of the Middle East (18 countries in the region) and in Asia (48 nations in the region).
Drinking tea could mean many many things to different cultures. No matter where you are in these regions of the world, someone will wave at you so you can share a delicious cup of tea! here are some of the reasons:
1-Shopping
When you are in those ancient markets, shop owners will wave at you or start small talk and ask you to sit down and have a cup of tea, I learn a lot about cultural differences, habits, and trends while shopping. Having a conversation with a shopkeeper or owner while having tea is a great opportunity to ask questions about the culture and the location. It is a way for a shop owner to show appreciation and hospitality while hoping you get to know their products and buy from them.
2-Show Hospitality
Tuareg Tribe, Djanet, South Algeria
The Tuareg people are Nomads Berbers who live in the Sahara. Tuaregs have their own beautiful tea ritual to show real hospitality and generosity. In Algeria, they say this is the culture of the three teas. Tea is very very sweet and delicious!
Tuareg’s tea recipe calls for crushed mint leaves that are heated in water and then poured onto the tea. Fresheness…
Tea is extremely important, it is not polite to refuse a cup of tea when visiting people.
TUAREG PROVERB: “A tea without foam is like a Touareg without a turban.”
3-TO MAKE FRIENDS
One of my favorite ways to get to know folks is by having tea. I have met great folks having tea around the world. A few Muslim girls asked me to sit down and have a cup of tea with them to get to know me. It was my morning blessing by the beach! we
3-TO START OR TO END A MEAL
When you have a meal you have a cup of tea for small talk and then after the meal, again more tea for more talk. Talk, talk and talk!
4- TO SHOW OFF TEA MAKING SKILLS
I have had folks invite me to have tea and tell me about the special herbs, teapots, and or the type of firewood they prepared the tea in. These folks showed the step-by-step process and had great pride in their unique tea skills. Every time the ritual turned into a fantastic cup of unique tea…and conversation of course!!
On the right, a cup of tea in Algeria is short of the many delicacies they display at tea time. Pic credit to my Algerian friend!
5-TO ADVERTISE PRODUCTS
Some tea houses and or tea factories invite you to taste their tea for free (some will ask you to buy a ticket to tour the factory so let’s say it was “kind of ” free…).
Tea factories promote their products by inviting folks to visit their factories to earn how things about the industry and their plantation.
In the picture on the right, a Sri Lankan Plantation worker proudly shows the types of tea the plantation produces. Sri Lanka is the 4th largest tea producer and the number one producer of orthodox tea.
6-TO SOCIALIZE
Tea houses in Ukraine are pretty popular. Getting together with friends to have tea is a favorite social pastime, tea is always offered to guests. Tea with a wonderful array of cakes, pastries, and fantastic bread and jam!!
