Turkish Tea Recipe
This authentic Turkish tea recipe guides you through the simple, traditional method of brewing çay using a double teapot (çaydanlık). Create a rich, flavorful tea concentrate that you can dilute to your preferred strength for the perfect cup every time.
Equipment
- Turkish Teapot (Çaydanlık) or two stackable pots
- Small tea glasses
Ingredients
- 5 tbsp loose-leaf Turkish black tea
- 8 cups filtered water
- Sugar cubes (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Fill the bottom pot of the çaydanlık with the water and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Place the loose-leaf tea in the empty top pot and place it on top of the bottom pot to warm the leaves with the rising steam.
- Once the water boils, pour half of it into the top pot over the tea leaves. Reduce the stove heat to low.
- Let the tea steep for 15-20 minutes over the simmering water. The concentrate will become dark and fragrant.
- To serve, pour concentrate into a tea glass (1/4 full for light tea, 1/3 full for strong tea). Fill the rest of the glass with hot water from the bottom pot. Serve with sugar cubes on the side.
Notes
For the most authentic flavor, use a Turkish brand of tea like Çaykur or Rize. The quality of the tea makes a huge difference! Don't be afraid to adjust the steeping time or the amount of concentrate to find the perfect strength for your taste.