The Traditional Çaydanlık: Brewing Turkish Tea Like a Turk
If you’ve ever been served Turkish tea at someone’s home or in a local tea house, you might have noticed something unusual — a tall, stacked teapot with steam rising from the middle of the table.
That’s called a çaydanlık, and it’s the secret behind the deep, bold flavor that makes Turkish tea so unforgettable.
What Is a Çaydanlık?
A çaydanlık is a traditional two-tiered teapot used for brewing Turkish black tea. It consists of:
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A larger bottom pot (su kazanı) used to boil water
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A smaller top pot (demlik) used to steep tea leaves with the hot water
This method allows you to brew a strong concentrate and then dilute it with hot water to your preferred strength — a technique that’s completely unique to Turkish tea culture.
🔥 How It Works (Step-by-Step)
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Fill the bottom pot with water and bring it to a boil.
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Pour boiling water into the empty top pot, then add tea leaves (usually 5–6 tablespoons) on top of the water.
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Let the tea gently steam and steep over the next 10–15 minutes.
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To serve, pour a small amount of the concentrated tea into a glass, then dilute with hot water from the bottom pot.
This way, everyone can customize their tea — açık (light) or demli (strong).
📝 Unlike most tea traditions, Turkish tea is adjusted per glass, not per pot.
🌿 Why Use a Çaydanlık?
✅ Better flavor extraction
The steam gently coaxes the oils from the tea leaves without burning them, producing a smoother, less bitter tea.
✅ Keeps water hot longer
The stacked design acts like a built-in thermos — perfect for serving guests over a long conversation.
✅ Cultural experience
Using a çaydanlık isn’t just about making tea. It’s about slowing down, sharing, and connecting — which is the heart of Turkish tea culture.
Çaydanlık Brewing Tips
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Use fresh, cold water each time.
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Let the tea steam, not boil — this brings out flavor without harshness.
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Don’t stir the tea leaves — let them settle naturally.
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Keep the flame on low to avoid over-steeping or burning.
🧿 What If You Don’t Have a Çaydanlık?
You can still enjoy Turkish tea with a regular teapot or an infuser, but the flavor won’t be the same. The slow steaming and double-heat system of a çaydanlık creates a unique depth of flavor that’s hard to replicate.
Many Turkish families won’t drink tea made any other way — and once you taste the difference, you’ll understand why.
✨ Try It With Mayıs Çayı
To truly experience the full benefit of brewing with a çaydanlık, you need quality tea.
Our Mayıs Çayı is:
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Harvested in May in Rize
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Naturally smooth and aromatic
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Made for traditional brewing — no additives, just pure tea leaves
It’s the perfect match for your çaydanlık.
🛒 Shop Mayıs Çayı – Premium Turkish Tea from Rize
Enjoy the traditional taste, brewed the traditional way.