Azerbaijani tea culture

Chaykhana (tea house) in Baku, 1888

Tea in Azerbaijan is served freshly brewed, hot and strong. It typically has a bright colour and is served in crystal or any other glasses or cups. Azerbaijanis often use traditional armudu (pear-shaped) glass. Tea is served continuously when there are guests or when there is an interesting conversation. For Azerbaijanis tea with milk is uncommon. According to a common belief, drinking tea with lump sugar instead of sand sugar comes from the medieval period, when rulers who were afraid of being poisoned checked their tea by dunking a piece of sugar in a beverage (it was believed that the poison would react to the sugar).[1] Traditional tea is served with lemon, cube sugar, sweets and fruit desserts (not jam).[2] Sometimes thyme, mint or rose water is added, which is believed to be good for the stomach and heart.[1]

For Azerbaijanis tea is associated with warmth, hospitality[2] tradition says that one should not allow the guest to leave the house without at least one cup of tea.

Tea in Azerbaijan is also served during matchmaking. After the negotiations by matchmakers are complete, the maid will bring out tea. If the tea is served without sugar, that is a sign that the chances for marriage agreement are very low; conversely, if tea is served with sugar, it means that there will be a wedding.[1]

## Chaykhana

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Tea in Azerbaijani traditional armudu (pear-shaped) glass

Azerbaijani people may drink tea in traditional tea houses called chaykhana. Men sit in a chaykhana, playing backgammon (nard), reading newspapers and drinking tea.[3] Historically, Azeri women did not go to public places, so chaykhana used to be a place for men.[4]

## Modern history

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Historically, tea production used to be one of the main industries in Azerbaijan. Although the first tea bushes were commercially grown in Azerbaijan as early as 1912, tea-growing gained commercial value in the 1930s under Soviet rule.[5] In 1934, specialists from Moscow visited Lankaran and took samples of the soil. They analyzed the samples and found that Lankaran is one of the most fructuous areas for tea growing. Since that time, tea factories have been operating in Lankaran and neighbouring regions. From then on, Lankaran became the main area in Azerbaijan for the cultivation of rice, tea, citrus fruit and vegetables.

In the 1980s, tea-production peaked up in the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Approximately, 34–38,000 tonnes of tea leaves were harvested annually at that time. However, tea production decreased as a result of the fall of the former Soviet Union. In 2007–2008, less than 500 tonnes were harvested and it was the lowest point.[6]

## Tea drinking traditions

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In Azerbaijan, people drink tea from the special glass called “armudu” (literally pear-like glass) and is associated with the figure of a hostess in Azerbaijani culture. [citation needed] Tea is served with various delicious sweets, fruit jam and sliced lemon.[7]

## Samovar tea

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In Azerbaijan, people boil water in heated metal containers known as samovars. Archaeologist Tufan Akhundov found a pottery samovar, possibly up to 3,600 years old, in Sheki a town located at the foothills of the Caucasus.[8]

## References

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1. ^ a b c "Chaihana: culture in action". Aze.info. Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
2. ^ a b Africa, Asia, and Oceania: Culturegrams 2002. Page 19

> Visiting relatives or friends is popular, and hospitality is part of the culture. Friends and family visit without prior notice. Guests often are invited for a meal or for tea. Tea is a friendly midafternoon affair that includes pastries, fruit deserts, fruit, candy and tea:

3. ^ Azerbaijan. David C. King
4. ^ The Azerbaijani Turks: power and identity under Russian rule. Audrey L. Altstadt
5. ^ BAYRAMOVA, JEYRAN (May 2013). "GOD'S DRINK - VOYAGE TO THE LAND OF AZERBAIJANI TEA". VOAM. Visions of Azerbaijan.
6. ^ "Visions of Azerbaijan Magazine ::: God's Drink - Voyage to the land of Azerbaijani tea". Visions of Azerbaijan Magazine (in Russian). Retrieved 2017-05-20.
7. ^ "Ancient traditions of tea drinking in Azerbaijan". AzerNews.az. 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
8. ^ Jafarova, Aynur (26 April 2013). "Ancient traditions of tea drinking in Azerbaijan". Azernews.

## External links

[edit]

* Tea-growing in Azerbaijan: The Present and Prospects

* v
* t
* e

Tea (Camellia sinensis)

* History

Common
varieties|

| Black tea|

* Assam
* Bohea
* Ceylon
* Congou
* Darjeeling
* Dianhong
* Golden Monkey
* Jin Jun Mei
* Kangra
* Keemun
* Nilgiri
* Sikkim
* Tibeti
* Rize
* Yingdehong

|

Oolong tea|

* Bai Jiguan
* Ban Tian Yao
* Baozhong
* Bu Zhi Chun
* Da Hong Pao
* Dong ding
* Dongfang meiren
* Fo Shou
* Gaoshan
* Huangjin Gui
* Huang Meigui
* Jin Xuan
* Qilan
* Rougui
* Ruan zhi
* Shui Jin Gui
* Shui Xian
* Tieluohan
* Tieguanyin

Green tea|

* Anji bai cha
* Aracha
* Baimao Hou
* Bancha
* Biluochun
* Chun Mee
* Dafang
* Genmaicha
* Lu'an Melon Seed
* Gunpowder
* Gyokuro
* Hōjicha
* Taiping houkui
* Huangshan Maofeng
* Hyson
* Kabusecha
* Kamairicha
* Konacha
* Kukicha
* Longjing
* Matcha
* Maojian
* Mecha
* Mengding Ganlu
* Sencha
* Shincha
* Tamaryokucha

White tea|

* Bai Mudan
* Baihao Yinzhen
* Shoumei

Yellow tea|

* Junshan Yinzhen
* Huoshan Huangya

Fermented tea|

* Pu-erh
* Doncha
* Lahpet
* Kombucha

Blended or
flavoured teas|

* Earl Grey (Lady Grey)
* Breakfast tea (English, Irish)
* Jasmine tea
* Lapsang souchong
* Masala chai
* Maghrebi mint tea
* Prince of Wales
* Russian Caravan
* Strobilanthes tonkinensis

General|

* Australian
* Arabic
* British
* Ceylon
* Chinese
* Korean
* Nepali
* Taiwanese
* Turkish
* Vietnamese

Culture|

| Customs|

* Afternoon/High tea/Evening meal
* Tea party
* Tasseography
* East Asian tea ceremony
* Chinese
* Yum cha
* Japanese
* Korean
* Taiwanese
* Ryukyuan

|

Areas|

* Tea garden
* Teahouse or tearoom
* Cha chaan teng
* Chashitsu
* Mizuya
* Sukiya-zukuri
* Roji

By country|

* American
* Argentine
* Azerbaijani
* Brazilian
* Chinese
* Dominican
* Hong Kong
* Indian
* Japanese
* Mexican
* Pakistani
* Russian
* Senegalese
* Taiwanese

History|

* China
* India
* Japan

Production and
distribution|

* Leaf grading
* Processing
* Decaffeination
* Tasting
* Cultivation
* Diseases
* Companies
* Consumption by country
* Auctions
* London
* Chittagong
* Guwahati

| By country|

* Bangladesh
* Indonesia
* Kenya
* Rwanda
* Sri Lanka
* United States

|

Preparation|

* Flowering teas
* Infusion
* Compressed tea
* Decoction
* ISO procedure
* Steeping
* Tea bag
* Tea lady

Health|

* Health effects
* Phenolic content
* Compounds
* Caffeine
* Theanine
* Flavan-3-ol
* Catechin
* Epigallocatechin gallate
* Theaflavin

Tea-based
drinks|

* Bubble tea
* Builder's tea
* Burmese milk tea
* Butter tea
* Chifir
* Doodh pati chai
* Hong Kong–style milk tea
* Iced tea
* Arnold Palmer
* Jagertee
* Kahwah
* Lei cha
* Milk tea
* Noon chai
* Seven-color tea
* Shahi haleeb
* Suutei tsai
* Sweet tea
* Teh tarik
* Thai tea
* Yuenyeung

See also|

* Teaware
* Chest
* Caddy
* Chawan
* Infuser
* Strainer
* Teacup
* Teapot
* Gaiwan
* Tea set
* Literature
* Tea classics
* Coffee
* List of Chinese teas
* Teas of related species
* Camellia japonica
* Camellia sasanqua
* Camellia taliensis
* Tea research
* Lipton Institute of Tea
* Tea Research and Extension Station

| Herbal tea|

* Cannabis tea
* Chamomile
* Dried lime
* Ginger
* Guayusa
* Koththamalli
* Kuding
* Mate
* Rooibos

|

* Category

* v
* t
* e

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage elements in Azerbaijan

* Azerbaijani mugham (2008)
* Art of Azerbaijani ashiq (2009)
* Traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving (2010)
* Craftsmanship and performance art of the tar (2012)
* Traditional art and symbolism of kelaghayi, making and wearing women's silk headscarves (2014)
* Copper craftsmanship of Lahij (2015)
* Dolma making and sharing tradition, a marker of cultural identity (2017)
* Nar Bayrami, traditional pomegranate festivity and culture (2020)
* Pehlevanliq culture: traditional zorkhana games, sports and wrestling (2022)

Shared|

* Novruz (Azeri · 2009)
* Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka (2016)
* Art of crafting and playing with kamancha (2017)
* Heritage of the Book of Dede Gorgud, epic culture, folk tales and music (2018)
* Art of miniature (2020)
* Sericulture and traditional production of silk for weaving (Azeri · 2022)
* Culture of tea, a symbol of identity, hospitality and social interaction (Azeri · 2022)
* Telling tradition of Molla Nasraddin anecdotes (2022)
* Craftsmanship and performing art of balaban (2023)
* Craftsmanship of mother of pearl inlay (2023)
* Iftar and its socio-cultural traditions (2023)
* Art of illumination (2023)

Need of Urgent Safeguarding|

* Chovgan, a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game (2013)
* Yalli (kochari, tenzere), traditional group dances of Nakhchivan (2018)

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