Armudas - Turkish glasses for tea

Oriental people have tea drinking - a real ritual, which every time is carried out in accordance with national traditions. The Turks are especially attached to tea. In Turkey, breakfast, lunch and dinner necessarily ends with the preparation of this drink. Even in hot weather, the Turks quench their thirst with hot, strong tea. The main place in this process is occupied by Turkish glasses for tea.

History of glasses

The morning of each Turk begins with a cup of tea. Traditionally, this drink is drunk from special Turkish glasses, which are called Armudas. They are small pear-shaped glass containers.

Turkish tea glasses have their own history. There is a legend that armuids were created as a symbol of perfect love. Poets and romantics compare this feeling with the incredible beauty of flowers. Therefore, the armuids were shaped like a bud of a tulip. Some historians say that in its shape the glass resembles the fruit of a stone pear - a popular tree in Central Asia.

Nowadays tea drinking from Armud is rather traditional and part of the national culture of the Turks. Turkish tea glasses have also attracted the attention of foreign tourists. Each traveler during his stay in Turkey tries to try real tea and buy a set of glasses.

The form

Armud - a glass in the shape of a pear, made of transparent glass. It has thin, slightly narrowed to the middle of the wall and a wide thick bottom. So it looks like any Turkish glass for tea.

The form of armuid is considered practical and convenient for use. Due to the narrowed edges, the glass is comfortable to hold in the hand. It does not slip and does not fall out even with sudden movements. A special form also improves the taste of brewed tea. The narrowed part of the cup delays heat.

In the oriental glass the drink preserves its aroma for a long time. A person who drinks Turkish tea can fully experience all the notes of a herbal bouquet.

Turkish tea glasses do not have a handle. During tea drinking, armud must be held at the waist.

The volume of the glass is 100 ml. Despite the small capacity, armuids do not fill up to the top. It is customary for Turks to leave 1-2 cm above. In some armuads this place is marked by a rim. The free portion of the glass in the people is called the place for the lips.

Types of Armuad

To date, Turkish glasses are made from different materials. The most common are classic armuads made of colorless glass. These glasses are used by the Turks for daily tea drinking. On holidays and celebrations, it is customary to drink tea from armuad, decorated with colorful designs or gold patterns.

The most expensive are the armuads of crystal, silver and gold. To simple utensils glass, faience and porcelain glasses concern.

For reception of visitors use a set of Turkish glasses for tea, consisting of several pairs of armuads with saucers and a tray. Such sets can be both multi-colored and in classical style.

How to drink tea from Armud

A glass, according to the Turks, is the best capacity, capable of conveying the true flavor and taste of tea. Usually black black tea is drunk from Armuda . It is brewed in several stages:

1. Pour in the brewer the right amount of dry tea half the required amount of boiling water.
2. Cover the container with a lid and leave for 2-3 minutes.
3. Pour the second half of boiling water into the kettle and again leave it for a few minutes.
4. A ready drink is poured over glasses.

Armudas are served on saucers. Sugar, jam and honey are served separately. Most Turks prefer lump sugar. It is slightly dipped in tea and chewed, washed down with a fragrant drink.

It is accepted to take Armudas with the thumb and forefinger for a narrow part and bring it to your lips without removing it from the saucer. Sometimes for convenience use cup holders.

During tea drinking, the brewer remains on the table. The owner offers guests to add tea.

The duration of such tea drinking is unlimited. And the owner of the house or the oldest person from the company should lead the process.

In Turkey, tea is offered to every guest, regardless of the purpose of his visit to the house. If the host does not invite a guest to a tea party, this indicates a bad attitude towards the latter.