Invitation to tea: cup, sweets and hospitality

Drink for a meeting

UNESCO describes the two countries' tea culture as a practice of hospitality and communication. The base is most often black tea, but the methods of preparation and addition vary. Tea meeting occurs in everyday life and at important events. It helps to see a whole social habit behind the usual cup: making time for another person, offering a drink and sharing a treat with him.

Dishes are also involved

The description of the tradition mentions teapots, pear-shaped glasses and cups made of different materials. Around the tea party work tableware makers, teahouse owners and sweets makers. Among the additions, UNESCO lists sugar, lemon, jam and dried fruit. These details leave the guest with different possibilities for combining tastes: the tea itself and the treat served next to it can be tasted separately, comparing the impressions of each.

Jam making as a separate craft

The Azerbaijan Tourist Council particularly highlights white cherry and walnut jam. For nuts, take the fruits before the shell hardens; lengthy preparation with several stages of processing is described. This is a completely different product than dry nut kernels. Interest in such a treat begins with an understanding of the raw materials and labor that turns an unripe fruit into a sweet for the tea table.

Little tasting at home

For your meeting, you can bring out drinks, dried fruits and sweets in separate dishes, and invite guests to choose combinations. If you are serving unusual jam, name its base and tell us about the method of preparation as described by the manufacturer. Tea with navat from the catalog can be considered as a separate ready-made blend: its name itself does not confirm that it belongs to the Azerbaijani or Turkish tradition.

Sources

• Culture of Çay (tea), a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interaction — UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Homemade jams — Azerbaijan Tourism Board