Tea Traditions in Muslim Cultures

In Muslim countries, tea is more than just a hot drink. It is very important to the heritage, traditions and cultures in which it originates.

For #InternationalTeaDay we celebrate the art of tea, with different types of tea from across the Muslim world…

Persian Chai Black tea, called chai in Farsi, is one of the most popular drinks in Iran. It is so popular that it is more than just a drink – it is part of Persian culture. Black tea leaves are boiled with cardamom pods for the perfect Persian chai.

Credit & discover more: https://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/shai-adeni-adeni-tea/

Yemeni Shai Adeni Shai Adeni (Shahi Mulaban, Shahi Haleeb, Arabic Shai, Adeni Tea) is a Yemeni tea from the coastal city of Aden flavored with cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, and sweetened condensed milk or evaporated milk with a bit of sugar

Credit & discover more:: https://www.vahdam.com/blogs/tea-us/tea-cultures-and-ceremonies-tea-culture-in-egypt

Z-hourat, Lebanon & Syria A popular herbal tea made from a blend of aromatic herbs. This tea is the perfect combination of rich herbs, fragrant smells & goodness. It includes dried Rose petals, Lavender, Hibiscus, Chamomile, Thyme, Sage & Mint.

Credit & discover more:: https://sterlingberry.com/shop/z-hourat-tea

Kashmiri Tea Often called Pink Tea, Kashmiri chai is a milk tea characterized by its dusty pink color and garnishing of crushed nuts. It's brewed with green tea leaves and baking soda, and then mixed with milk to give it a distinct pink colour.

Credit & discover more: https://cookpad.com/pk/recipes/16704154-kashmiri-chai-pink-tea

Palestinian Shay bil Maramiya (شاي بالمرامية) Made by steeping black tea leaves with dried sage. It takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish and is a common treatment for stomach aches. A little sugar is mixed in as desired.

Credit & discover more: https://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/the-gaza-kitchen-cookbook-review-and-shay-bil-maramiya-palestinian-sage-scented-tea/#:~:text=Shay%20bil%20Maramiya%20(%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%8A%20%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9,is%20mixed%20in%20as%20desired.

Mauritian Tea Black tea is the traditional choice in Mauritius, however, the locally-produced vanilla tea is a firm favourite. In Mauritius, tea is usually served sweet, with a hefty dose of powdered milk.

Credit & discover more:  https://veranda-resorts.com/blog/flavours/tea-with-powdered-milk-a-mauritian-ritual

Moroccan Mint Tea Made by steeping green tea with a generous handful of spearmint leaves, it is sometimes also made with other types of mint or herbs, and traditionally served in small glass cups.

Credit & discover more: https://www.thespruceeats.com/moroccan-mint-tea-atay-bi-nana-2394947

Sudanese Cinnamon Tea A blend of black tea steeped with cinnamon sticks. Many people like to hold a sugar cube between the teeth while drinking to sweeten the brew..

Credit & discover more: https://globaltableadventure.com/recipe/sudanese-cinnamon-tea/

Kuwaiti tea (Arabic: الشاي الكويتي; "Shay al Kuwaiti") There are two popular types. One is a sweet cinnamon tea made with cinnamon sticks and sugar. Another type of Kuwaiti tea is saffron and cardamom tea. This tea is usually served after lunch.

Uzbek Tea Tea is the main drink in Uzbekistan. Any meal starts with Uzbek tea and ends with it. The most popular is green tea (kuk-choy). Black tea (kora-choy) is most popular in Tashkent. Generally, Uzbek tea is taken without sugar.

Credit & discover more: https://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/uzbek-food/tea.htm

Omani Spiced Milk Tea Called Special Karak in Oman, this sweet milk tea is spiced with cardamom, clove, cinnamon, and ginger. Sweetened condensed milk brings intense creaminess.

Credit & discover more: https://www.saveur.com/spiced-omani-tea-recipe/

Ethiopian Spiced Shahee This is more of an infusion than a true tea, since it isn't made with tea leaves. It is made using ground cardamom, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves and a slice fresh ginger boiled together.

Credit & discover more: https://itsmorethantea.wordpress.com/2022/02/22/ethiopian-tea/

Teh Tarik Pulled tea, Singapore & Malaysia A hot milk tea, like Karak Chai, but with a twist. It is popular in countries like Singapore and Malaysia. A unique technique goes into making this tea, and it gets its name from it too, 'pulled tea'

Credit & discover more: https://gulfnews.com/food/teh-tarik-pulled-tea-from-singapore-and-malaysia-1.1645435312246

Bangladeshi Tandoori Chai It’s made by taking iron tongs to place an earthen cup in a hot tandoor. When the cup is super-hot, it’s taken out and sweet milky chai is poured in, which sizzles & froths over. This chai is poured into another kulhad & served.

Credit & discover more: https://peakd.com/hive-120586/@rem-steem/a-hot-cup-of-tandoori-teachai

Persian style black tea with dried lime This type of tea is popular with Iranians. It consists of black tea leaves and dried lime. Dried lime is a lime that has dried in the sun

Credit & discover more: https://cookpad.com/uk/recipes/2553620-persian-style-black-tea-with-dried-lime

Keralan Sulaimani Chai From the Indian state of Kerala it is popular in the UAE too. Sulaimani chayya, is a mild tea made with loose tea leaves & flavoured with lemon or mint. According to folklore, Sulaimani tea is believed to have Arab origins.

Credit & discover more: https://gulfnews.com/food/the-journey-of-sulaimani-tea-from-keralas-malabar-coast-to-the-uae-1.1628444711871

Sources of information

https://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/shai-adeni-adeni-tea/

https://www.vahdam.com/blogs/tea-us/tea-cultures-and-ceremonies-tea-culture-in-egypt

https://sterlingberry.com/shop/z-hourat-tea

https://cookpad.com/pk/recipes/16704154-kashmiri-chai-pink-tea

https://tarasmulticulturaltable.com/the-gaza-kitchen-cookbook-review-and-shay-bil-maramiya-palestinian-sage-scented-tea/#:~:text=Shay%20bil%20Maramiya%20(%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%8A%20%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%A9,is%20mixed%20in%20as%20desired.Tweet

https://veranda-resorts.com/blog/flavours/tea-with-powdered-milk-a-mauritian-ritual

https://www.thespruceeats.com/moroccan-mint-tea-atay-bi-nana-2394947

https://globaltableadventure.com/recipe/sudanese-cinnamon-tea/

https://www.advantour.com/uzbekistan/uzbek-food/tea.htm

https://www.saveur.com/spiced-omani-tea-recipe/

https://itsmorethantea.wordpress.com/2022/02/22/ethiopian-tea/

https://gulfnews.com/food/teh-tarik-pulled-tea-from-singapore-and-malaysia-1.1645435312246

https://peakd.com/hive-120586/@rem-steem/a-hot-cup-of-tandoori-teachai

https://cookpad.com/uk/recipes/2553620-persian-style-black-tea-with-dried-lime

https://gulfnews.com/food/the-journey-of-sulaimani-tea-from-keralas-malabar-coast-to-the-uae-1.1628444711871