samedi 20 juin 2020

About Turkish Tea : The National Drink of Turkey

About Turkish Tea : The National Drink of Turkey

People who are unfamiliar with the country of Turkey assume the national drink is coffee, but in fact, tea is the inseparable drink of Turkish culture. Women, family, and friends often meet in tea gardens, while men flock to the male dominated teahouses that are a focal point of most villages and towns.

Harking back to the old days of face to face interaction, indulging in the daily ritual of tea drinking in Turkey means you don’t need phone credit, Facebook Time or otherwise to socialise. It is still a personal experience and in most cases of strangers, the beginning of a beautiful friendship. It even has its own proverb connecting it with love.

“Sevmek Çay Gibidir Sevilmek Seker Bizim Gibi Garibanlar Çayi Sekersiz”

Meaning “To love is like tea, to be loved is like sugar. The poor like us drink their tea without sugar.”

Turkish tea

How to Drink Turkish Tea

Called Cay in Turkish, small tulip shaped glasses sitting on round saucers are used to drink the tea. Turks never add milk but generally do insist on two cubes of sugar or more. Then it is a simple case of sipping it slowly to flavour the taste.

More than likely, Turkish friends will serve you tea when you visit them in their home. They may also invite you to meet them in tea gardens that are family destinations. Teahouses, generally located in the village or town centre are male-dominated environments, and it would be extremely unusual to see a female in one of those.

Turkish Tea Benefits

As well as being a social experience, Turkish tea has many health benefits as well. Studies in the Netherlands showed that black tea helps to regulate blood vessels and the heart, therefore, leading to a lesser chance of a stroke or heart attack. The flavonoids in black tea also keep cholesterol down, help to stabilise our metabolism and lead to a reduced risk of diabetes.

Turkish tea health benefits

How to Make Turkish Tea

Traditionally, a steel, two-tire pot called a caydanlik is used to make Turkish tea. Take the larger bottom pot and boil water in it on the stove. Put 2 tablespoons of tea leaves into the top pot, and fill it with boiling water from the lower one. Sit it on top of the bottom pan for approximately 10 minutes.

When you are ready to serve, fill a small tulip shaped glass either a quarter or a third of the way up, with the tea mixture from the top half of the caydanlik. Top up with clear water from the bottom pot. You can alter this mixture according to your taste of whether you like strong (demli) or weak (açik) tea. Add cubes of sugar to taste, then stir, and drink.

Turkish tea Caydanlik

Caykur Rize Tea

The most widely used brand of tea in Turkey is Caykur from the northeast region of Rize. This province, known as the tea capital of the country has a mild climate suiting the green mountainsides covered with tea plantations. As the main trade of the region, estimates say every second adult works in the tea industry of Rize. Caykur produce many variations of tea although Rize Turist is the most widely sold. If you are in that region, visit the Caykur tea gardens for a refreshing brew and fantastic view over the city and its tea plantations.

Turkish tea types

Other Types of Turkish Tea

Oralet is a fruit tea with flavours such as orange, apple, lemon, and cherry. Rather than using traditional tea leaves, the mixture consistency looks like sprinkles used for decorating cakes. It has an unusual bright colour, a fruity taste and generally thanks to its sweetness, does not need additional sugar. Typically sold at the local weekly markets, this tea type appeals to tourists more than Turks.

Turkish herbal tea is also available but at this point, it is worth mentioning Apple tea. It has garnered a reputation in the tourism industry as the ideal drink to offer travellers, especially while you are shopping. The truth is that Turks seldom drink it. According to them, the black, sweet variety is the only way to drink tea like a Turk!

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Exploring the Neighbourhoods of Istanbul

Exploring the Neighbourhoods of Istanbul

When I first came to Turkey, despite knowing Istanbul was the country’s largest city and top visited tourist destination, nothing quite prepared me for realising just how intense the city really is. As well as being the centre ruling capitals for both the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, the neighbourhoods of Istanbul each have their own story to tell. Indeed touring local suburbs is now a popular travel genre and Istanbul is no exception because most local excursion agents now sell guided walking tours.

Since my first visit, I’ve read many books about Istanbul and returned three times, yet I’ve only visited a fraction of what there is to see. Indeed, to fully know and appreciate the city, I would need to move there for at least a year.

So for this article about neighbourhoods of Istanbul, I’ve enlisted the help of my friend Bayram who sells Istanbul real estate and is knowledgeable on the unique characters of each district. Separating the city into the European and Asian sides, he explained each area is much like anywhere else in the world because they each have a particular genre or stereotype. For example, while one may be the business district, another is an upmarket destination and is a hangout for artists or the centre of nightlife.

Neighbourhoods of Istanbul

Historical Old City Part of Sultanahmet

Naturally, from a visitors point of view, Sultanahmet should be first on the list because it is a UNESCO world heritage site brimming over with historical landmarks from the Byzantine and Ottoman empires. The choice of hotels from hostels to five stars is mind-blowing and as with any other touristic destinations, restaurants cater for the masses by serving a variety of domestic and international cuisine. If your main reason for visiting Istanbul is to see the highlights like the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and Topkapi Palace, then Sultanahmet is the place to stay.

Neighbourhoods of Istanbul Turkey

Taksim and Beyoglu: Modern and Trendy

Typically characterised by Istiklal Caddesi, the central pedestrian thoroughfare and busiest street of Turkey, Beyoglu is the alternative face of Istanbul. As a favourite hangout in history for foreign dignitaries, it is now a centre for shopping and nightlife, and some of the city’s most prestigious hotels. The new and modern hasn’t overtaken all of it, though.

Some marvellous gems reflect the art and culture scene like Saint Anthony Padua Church, the antique shops of the Cukurcuma district and Orhan Pamuk’s (Turkey’s most famous Turkish author) Museum of Innocence. The Pera Museum holds the Tortoise Trainer painting, one of the most expensive ever sold in Turkey, and when I spent time here, I greatly favoured the smaller neighbourhood of Galata on the outskirts and its dramatic 360 panoramic views from the tower.

Istiklal street Istanbul Turkey

Fener and Balat

Growing in popularity for guided walking tours, these two districts reflect Jewish and Greek heritage, a lesser-known historical fact of Istanbul. Fener was previously home to many wealthy Greeks, as proved by Saint Georges Church, otherwise known as the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople. Balat, a historical settlement area for Jews, is also home to the oldest synagogue in the city that is Ahrida.

Both districts faced ruin after many years of neglect until 2003 when a substantial amount of money was pumped into restoring the old Ottoman houses. As well as highlighting their history, popular guided walking tours display authentic local life as seen in the homes, businesses, and locals.

Balat

Besiktas

Most people probably associate Besiktas with the famous football team, but it is about a lot more than that. Easily reached via a walk or bus ride from the Taksim area, the famous Dolmabahce Palace, sitting next to the clock tower and mosque of the same name is worth visiting. As last home to the Ottoman sultans, the wealth and decadence within those walls boggles the mind.

Heading further up Ciragan Caddesi, past the naval museum (Deniz Muzesi) and one of Turkey’s most expensive hotels, the Ciragan Palace, we arrive at the Ortakoy district. It’s mosque fronted by the famous Bosphorus Bridge is a favorite postcard and travel guidebook scene of Istanbul. Also popular at nighttime for its fish restaurants and nightclubs, Besiktas is home to Yildiz Palace Complex and Museum, one of the city’s famous green areas and park.

Istanbul Neighbourhoods Turkey

Eminönü and Beyazit

Sitting next to the entrance of the famous Galata Bridge, Eminönü is the place to pick up a cheap ferry tour of the Bosphorus. Balik Ekmek (fish sandwiches), is the favoured cheap street food otherwise, restaurants under Galata Bridge serve delicious albeit pricey fishmeals. In the Bahcekapi district of Eminönü, a small shop and living museum showcases the rise to fame of the humble Turkish delight. Owned by descendants of the inventor, Haci Bekir, it is of great interest to both locals and tourists. The most famous landmark in this district though is the Suliyeman mosque compound dating from 1557 and now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

For a shopping experience, the busy spice market fairs well, but it is worth walking the extra distance into the Beyazit area, home of one of the world’s oldest and largest marketplaces. The chaotic Grand Bazaar and its labyrinth of shops and passageways may seem intimidating to the newbie shopper in Turkey, but you will eventually get into the swing of exotic bargaining and banter of the 4000 unique shops.

From here, if a day of sightseeing and touring the main landmarks leaves you weary and worn out, the Cagaloglu Hamam is a traditional and most importantly authentic Turkish bath experience. Dating from 1741 and well known for its beautiful architecture, famous visitors from history include Florence Nightingale.

Istanbul Neighbourhoods

Princess Islands

Technically, the Princess Islands are not a neighbourhood but are worth knowing about because Büyükada (the largest island) and its pedestrian streets are a recommended tourist attraction. Originally, places of exile for Byzantine and Ottoman dignitaries, old mansions lining the streets display typical Ottoman architecture trends, and because vehicles can’t be used, horse driven carriages are the best method to tour the island.

Buyukada Istanbul

Sophisticated Nisantasi

Often overlooked in mainstream travel guides, Nisantasi is an elite and upmarket neighbourhood where the main word on the tongue is money! Osmanbey, which is the heart of the area, is home to Abdi Ipekci Street, the most expensive street in the whole of the country. Its premier status stems from luxury shopping brands including Louis Vuitton, Armani, and Dolce Gabanna, who have rented shops in the district. Combined with the international eateries, if money is no object, Nisantasi could be right up your street!

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Save Money with the Istanbul Tourist Pass When Visting Attractions

Save Money with the Istanbul Tourist Pass When Visting Attractions

The Istanbul Tourist Pass is one option on the tourism market that has been rapidly growing in popularity with visitors thanks to huge savings and a wide variety of attractions and experiences offered. After a few slow years, the tourism industry in Istanbul is up and running again at full pace!

Tour operators pull out all the stops to offer visitors the best tours, packages, experiences and value for money possible. No matter your holiday style or budget, you will be able to find the tour you’re looking for and see the beautiful city of Istanbul your way! But we think this pass is worth looking at

What Sets the Istanbul Tourist Pass Apart?

Convenience: It is an online Pass. That means there’s no physical ticket, just a digital QR code to access through a user-friendly App or via the official website. This QR code is you ‘digital Pass’ that gives you access to guided tours and entrance to other attractions.  All you need is your phone!

Customize your holiday itinerary: With Istanbul Tourist Pass, your holiday itinerary is fully customizable, which means you pick and choose which attractions you visit depending on your preferences, interests on a city tour. The days of buying expensive full-day tours when you only wanted to see one or two places are long gone!

Museums

Save time: Skip the ticket line for all major attractions in the old city Sultanahmet district with guided tours to Hagia Sophia, palaces like Topkapi and Dolmabahce, the Basilica Cistern and more! In summer especially, the ticket lines are super long to these major attractions, so these skip-the-ticket-line tours will allow you to spend your precious holiday time seeing more of the city.

Save money: Instantly have access to more than 35 attractions, experiences and services. All you need to do is choose the number of days you want to use your Pass.  The more you use your pass, the more you’ll save! There’s a helpful list on their website at the bottom of the page here: https://istanbultouristpass.com/whats-included It sets out how much money you’ll save compared to paying at the door. Have a look to easily see what great value for money you get with this product.

palaces

Get help and advice from locals: Another bonus is the personalised service they offer their customers. You get a mobile number that you can message via Whatsapp to get in touch with their friendly, local team who can help with any issues or questions about the Pass or Istanbul more generally. It’s a thoughtful and helpful service, especially for first-time visitors.

How Much is the Tourist Pass?

The Pass offers the same 35+ attractions, experiences and services for each Pass. The only thing you need to decide is how many days you want to be able to use it and for how many people.

Options are:

  • 2-day Pass: €95 per adult, €45 per child (aged 5-12)
  • 3-days Pass: €115 per adult, €55 per child (aged 5-12)
  • 5-day Pass: €135 per adult, €65 per child (aged 5-12)
  • 7-day Pass: €145 per person, €75 per child (aged 5-12)

Istanbul tourist pass

The days of the Pass are consecutive calendar days and the first day you use a service or visit an attraction counts as the first day of the Pass.

For multiple people travelling together, buy one Pass. For example, it’s better to buy one 2-day Pass for two adults and three children rather than five separate Passes made up of 2 x 2-day adult Passes and 3 x 2-day child Passes. This makes it easier when booking because you only have to do it once.

For children under 5, you’ll save money by paying their entry fee at each attraction since some places will be free, and only a few will require an entry fee.

What’s included in the Istanbul Pass

Before, I mentioned the “35+ attractions, experiences and services” so let’s look closer at what they are:

Most popular things to do:

  1. Hagia Sophia Museum Guided Tour
  2. Topkapi Palace Guided Tour
  3. Basilica Cistern Guided Tour
  4. Dolmabahce Palace Guided Tour
  5. A day-trip to Bursa, also near the sea of Marmara.
  6. A dinner cruise on the Bosphorus Strait: Get a discounted drinks package (soft drinks or local alcoholic drinks) when you make your reservation for this activity. If you are interested and want to pay for that, you absolutely can. Dinner, cruise and entertainment are free.
  7. BigBus Hop-on/Hop-off sightseeing tour: Get a 24-hour valid ticket to use two routes around the city and hop on and off as much as you like. The red route includes Taksim square in the cosmopolitan Beyoglu district, also known as the new city. While the Blue route covers the Golden Horn and places like the Spice Bazaar.
  8. A day-trip to Sapanca Lake and Masukiye
  9. Bosphorus cruise
  10. Whirling Dervishes show

Popular services:

  1. Unlimited mobile internet access for three days: Rent N Connect supplies this service. Simply order the device to be delivered directly to your hotel and start using it as soon as you arrive. Be sure to order at least a day in advance by making a reservation through your official Pass account. Just be aware that you’ll need to pay €0.50 as a security deposit for the booking to complete. There are no other costs for the three days, which includes unlimited data at 4G connection speeds!
  2. Istanbul Airport Shuttle Bus (one-way trip)
  3. Private Airport Transfer (one-way): Forget about taxis. Get a discounted price for a one-way airport transfer, so the regular price is €50 but for a transfer to/from Istanbul Airport you’ll only pay €35 or to/from Sabiha Gokcen Airport you’ll only pay €20. Get straight off flights and on your way to your hotel.
  4. WhatsApp Traveller Support

Other attractions and things to do:

  1. Madame Tussauds Wax Museum Istanbul
  2. Museum of Illusions Istanbul
  3. Sea Life Aquarium Istanbul
  4. Turkish and Islamic Arts Museum Guided Tour (Near the Hippodrome)
  5. Princes’ Islands boat trip (round-trip)
  6. Blue Mosque Guided Tour: Former imperial place of worship for the Ottoman sultans
  7. Sapphire Observation Deck
  8. Bosphorus night cruise with fish and chips (this tour only runs from 1 April to 30 Nov)
  9. SkyRide 4D Simulation
  10. Besiktas JK Stadium Guided Tour (note that this tour is in Turkish, but you can borrow an audio guide on-site for a fee)
  11. Hagia Irene Museum Guided Tour
  12. Maiden’s Tower
  13. Grand Bazaar Guided Tour
  14. Hop-on/hop-off Bosphorus boat tour
  15. Legoland Discovery Centre
  16. Jungle Park
  17. Safari
  18. Dungeon
  19. Sakip Sabanci Museum
  20. Fenerbahce Stadium and Museum Guided Tour (note that this tour is in Turkish, but you can borrow an audio guide on-site for a fee)
  21. Xtrem Adventures
  22. Pera Museum
  23. Dialogue in the Dark
  24. Dialogue in the Silence
  25. Serefiye Cistern Guided Tour
  26. Upside-Down House Photo Experience

About Visiting Museums on Your Own

Please note that you can’t visit the world heritage Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Dolmabahce Palace, Basilica Cistern, the Turkish & Islamic Arts Museum, Hagia Irene or Serefiye Cistern on your own with Istanbul Tourist Pass.  The only way to do this is to line up at the ticket office of each attraction, buy a ticket and then go in by yourself.

Istanbul Tourist Pass offers a guided walking tour of these places in English throughout the week, and you can check out the timetable here: https://istanbultouristpass.com/guided-tours-timetable I think it’s better this way because you engage with a local and benefit from their knowledge and expertise about the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, and the days of Constantinople. It makes for a much richer sightseeing experience. Simply meet the guide at the meeting point outlined in the timetable 5 minutes before the tour starts and enjoy!

In conclusion

Yes, the pass really is as good as it sounds! Rest assured that there are no hidden costs. I’ve mentioned any extra fees like audio guides so that you are best-equipped to decide if Istanbul Tourist Pass is going to work for you and save you money before you make a purchase.

For more information, check out the official website here: https://istanbultouristpass.com/ and perhaps have a look at their FAQ page for extra information. Also follow them on Facebook and Instagram to keep up-to-date with the latest things to see and do in Istanbul city.

City tour

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About Turkish Tea : The National Drink of Turkey

About Turkish Tea : The National Drink of Turkey People who are unfamiliar with the country of Turkey assume the national drink is coffee, b...