The Turkish coffee was discovered in the Kaffa region of southern Ethiopia in the early 14th century.
The researches about the Turkish coffee shows that the Turkish coffee has spread from southern Ethiopia to Anatolia and then spread from the Ottomans into Europe. Özdemir Pasha, who served as governor in Yemen in 1517, tasted this coffee and brought it to Istanbul. Did you know that the coffee was first boiled to get the coffee flavor, like a tea? it wasn’t until later that the beans were roasted and ground.
The first coffee shop opened in Tahtakale and spread to all over Istanbul in a short time.
Afterward, many coffee shops were opened in Istanbul and coffee became synonymous with art, politics, friendship and good conversations.
Mothers-in-law are strict judges
Future brides beware: your future mothers-in-law have the right to evaluate and judge you all based on how you prepare and serve coffee. In fact, in many families, it is the first test for the new bride. She prepares coffee for her mother-in-law and then waits for her judgment, so do your best to avoid the gossip.
Turkish coffee is the only type of coffee used to see the future.
Once you have drunk the coffee down to the bits at the bottom (you will know when you get there!), take your saucer and place it over the top of your cup. Flip the cup towards your heart and set it down to cool. Some people take a ring and place it on top. A ring not only identifies who’s coffee is who’s but it also helps the coffee cool faster by absorbing the heat into the metal of the ring. Once cooled, you can lift the cup and read the shapes and pictures in the grounds. Don’t read your own! That’s no fair!
There is a reason why coffee is served with water.
According to the superstition, if the guest drinks the coffee first it means he is full and if he drinks the water first it means he is hungry. However, the real reason is to cleanse the pallette in order to fully taste the flavor of the coffee. Contrary to popular belief, the water which is served with coffee should be drunk first not later.
The tradition of serving Salty Coffee to a potential groom:
During the days of arranged marriages, grooms would come with his parents to a potential bride to be’s house to seek her hand in marriage. Since they would not be able to speak, the girl would indicate interest or lack of with what she put in the coffee:
- Salty for NO
- Sugary for YES
And, the groom finds out how the girl feels. This is not done so much as arranged marriages are not as popular any more.
Foam is important!
Taking time to cook the coffee helps to create a thick foam on top and greater depth of flavor. Not only that, it helps to keep the coffee warm!
Turkish coffee is usually served with Lokum (a Turkish delight).
According to the superstition, people used to serve their guests lokum with Turkish coffee as a way of asking for their satisfaction. If the guest eats the lokum after drinking the coffee, it meant that he was pleased with the way he was hosted. And if he doesn’t it meant that the host is not satisfied with the way he hosted.
Health Benefits of Turkish coffee
Turkish coffee balances the level of cholesterol in the blood. It increases the effectiveness of the painkillers, helping the pain to pass through more quickly. It helps prevent a majority of heart diseases help prevent and it is also very effective on the digestive system. It is especially useful for correcting bowel movements. It softens when contacted with the skin (by massage etc.) and is good for skin problems. Due to the antioxidant it provides great benefits in preventing serious diseases such as cancer. It also an effect on increasing attention and clearing the mind. It is also known that is good for headaches and bone pain.
Don’t drink TOO Much!!
When Turkish coffee is consumed more than 3 times a day, it can cause heart rhythm disorders. This is why people with heart disease should be careful when consuming Turkish coffee. Excessive coffee consumption can also cause blood pressure problems.
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