Turks make coffee by burying a coffee pot filled with water in a pan of hot sand over a fire or electric stove.
In 2013, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized Turkish coffee culture and traditions as an intangible cultural heritage representing humanity. The way of preparing and enjoying coffee in this country has many unique features, different from the rest of the world.
Sand coffee is one of those unique features. When brewed, coffee grounds and water are poured together into a special long-handled metal pot called a "cezve." The coffee maker places the cezve in a pan of hot sand, either over a fire or an electric stove. The heat from the sand surrounding the pot causes the coffee to foam rapidly.
Once the water is boiling, the coffee is poured into a small cup to serve the guest, and then the cezve is buried in the sand 3-4 more times without adding water. The coffee grounds settle to the bottom, making this traditional Turkish coffee thick and rich. The brewing temperature can also be adjusted, depending on how deep the copper-bottomed cezve is in the sand.
Turkish coffee is traditionally brewed by boiling water over hot sand. Photo: Adobe Stock
The small cup of coffee poured from a cezve is called a demitasse, and is about the size of an espresso. Demitasse, which means “half cup” in French, is the smallest of all coffee cups. In Türkiye, coffee is often served with dessert.
Turkish hot sand coffee has a long history and no one has yet determined exactly where this brewing method originated. Domestic scholars believe that it originated in the Ottoman culture, the empire that spanned Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, lasting from the 14th century until the early 20th century. The empire originated in the region of Sogut in present-day Turkey and for more than 7 centuries of its existence, the Ottoman capital was always located in the territory of what is now Türkiye.
Since Ottoman times, sultans and nobles have required their servants to brew their coffee in hot sand. This method allows for more even and thorough heat transfer than heating coffee directly over a fire. The coffee is also thicker and smoother than usual.
Coffee grounds fortune telling is also a popular cultural practice among locals. After finishing a cup of coffee, the drinker turns the cup upside down so that the coffee grounds drip down and create patterns on the saucer. The fortune teller looks at the patterns and predicts the "customer's" fate.
Turkish coffee culture is also present in weddings. It is customary for the groom-to-be to bring his family to meet the bride's family and ask for their blessing. The bride-to-be will make coffee for the groom's family and may add salt instead of sugar to the groom's cup. The groom cannot complain about being "played" because it is considered rude. The fact that the groom finishes the salty coffee without getting upset is considered proof that the girl has found a good husband.
Turkish Sand Coffee
The Turks have a saying, "The memory of a cup of coffee lasts for 40 years," to describe their coffee drinking culture.
Turkish sand coffee is different from regular coffee, even though it uses the same ingredients. Different brewing methods produce different flavors and strengths. Many believe that using copper to heat the sand makes the coffee more flavorful and stronger.
Regardless of the method used, Turkish coffee is generally aromatic, rich, frothy and piping hot.
Anh Minh (According to UNESCO, Lonely Planet )
Source: https://vnexpress.net/ca-phe-cat-tho-nhi-ky-4656044.html
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