= Turkish coffee = in picture traditional turkish pot called a
"cezve" & Turkish Coffee. I went to check out this new middle
eastern ethic grocery store in Arlington,TX and the store
was small nice and clean. They carried lots of interesting stuff
and they had the works to make turkish coffee! which I had always
wanted to try so, I bought the pot and the coffee.
From the days of the Ottoman Empire through the present,
coffee has played an important role in Turkish lifestyle
and culture. The serving and consumption of coffee has
had a profound effect on betrothal and gender customs,
political and social interaction, prayer, and hospitality
customs throughout the centuries.
Brought to Istanbul in 1555 by two Syrian traders,
coffee became known as the "milk of chess players and thinkers".
By the mid-17th century, Turkish coffee became part of elaborate
ceremonies involving the Ottoman court. Coffee makers (kahveci usta),
with the help of over forty assistants, ceremoniously prepared and
served coffee for the sultan. Betrothal customs and gender roles
also became defined through coffee rituals. In ancient times,
women received intensive training in the harem on the proper
technique of preparing Turkish coffee. Perspective husbands
would judge a woman's merits based on the taste of her coffee.
Derived from the Arabica bean, Turkish coffee is a very fine,
powder-like grind. An aromatic spice called cardamom is sometimes
added to the coffee while it is being ground. One can also boil whole
seeds with the coffee and let them float to the top when served.
Turkish coffee has six levels of sweetness ranging from very
sweet to black. Since sugar is not added to the coffee after it is
served, spoons are not needed. As the coffee begins to heat, it
begins to foam. A rule of the Turkish coffee ceremony dictates
that if the foam is absent from the face of the coffee,
the host loses face.
Turkish coffee is served hot from a special coffee pot called "cezve".
Tradition states that after the guest has consumed the coffee and the
cup is turned upside down on the saucer and allowed to cool,
the hostess then performs a fortune reading from the coffee
grounds remaining in the cup. Rich in tradition and flavor,
Turkish coffee remains a favorite today.
