"TURKIYE, WHERE ASIA AND EUROPE COME... " a Turkey Travel Page by Arkeolog

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Turkish Coffee

From the days of the Ottoman Empire through the present, coffee has played an important role in Turkish life style 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. Although many of the rituals are not prevalent in today's society, coffee has remained an integral part of Turkish culture.

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. For both men and women, coffee has been at the center of political and social interaction. During the Ottoman period, women socialized with each other over coffee and sweets. Men socialized in coffeehouses to discuss politics and to play backgammon. In the early 16thcentury, these coffeehouses played host to a new form of satirical political and social criticism called shadow theater in which puppets were the main characters. Over the years, Turkish coffee houses have become social institutions providing a place to meet and talk.

Today, Turkish coffeehouses continue their role in society as a meeting place for both the cultured citizen and the inquisitive traveler. Istanbul offers many new and delightful cafe-restaurants where friends and family meet to discuss topics of the day over a cup of traditional Turkish coffee.

Derived from the Arabic 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.

Baklava is of Turkish origin and is the world's favourite Turkish Dessert. It's extremely delicious.

Baklava is a also very popular sweet pastry in Albanian, Arab, Bosnian, Cypriot, Macedonian, Tunisian, Egyptian, Syrian, Persian, Israeli and Greek cuisines with a high sugar content, making it extremely rich.

Baklava is a complex, layered dessert made with paper thin sheets of Yaprak (thin as leaf) dough which have been buttered and layered in a baking dish. Finely chopped walnuts or pistachios are layered between the sheets of pastry, which are baked and soaked in a solution of sugar and either lemon juice or honey and spices with rosewater. In Turkish cuisine it is typically then cut into triangles, squares or diamonds and served. Also, in Turkish cuisine, the baklava sheet is rolled and cut into circular slices.As with any food, there are regional variations in the recipe with the most common ones being the syrup recipe and whether or not it contains honey.