Turkmen Chai — Print Recipe — The Culinary Codex

Strong green tea brewed in a special ceramic teapot, the national beverage served at every meal and social occasion throughout Turkmenistan.

Instructions

1 Warm a ceramic teapot by rinsing it with boiling water then discarding the water to preheat the vessel properly.
2 Add loose leaf green tea to the warmed teapot using about one tablespoon per person for proper strength.
3 Pour boiling water into the teapot and let steep for three to five minutes depending on desired strength.
4 Pour the first cup and return it to the teapot three times to mix the tea evenly, a process called kaytar.
5 Pour tea into small piala bowls filling only halfway to allow the tea to cool enough for comfortable sipping.
6 Serve the tea throughout the meal, refilling the teapot with hot water as needed, never letting guests have empty bowls.

Did You Know?

Offering green tea is the first act of Turkmen hospitality and refusing it is considered a serious social offense.