If you've ever been to Türkiye, you've probably been offered Turkish tea more times than you can count! It's everywhere, from little shops and cafés to people's homes. Wondering how to make Turkish tea at home? It's really easy! We're Turkish, so we make it every day. Here's how we make it using a traditional double teapot.
What Is Turkish Tea?
Turkish tea, or çay (pronounced "chai") as we call it in Türkiye, is a type of black tea, mostly grown in the Rize region along the Black Sea coast.
We brew it in a double teapot and serve it in small, tulip-shaped glasses, adding hot water to make it as strong or light as we like. A good Turkish tea has a beautiful reddish color.
For us, it's much more than just a drink. It's what we have with breakfast, offer guests as soon as they arrive, and sip throughout the day, often while having a good chat.
What You'll Need
You only need three things to make Turkish tea the traditional way: a double teapot, loose black tea leaves, and water.
We use a traditional Turkish teapot called a çaydanlık. The larger pot at the bottom is for boiling water, while the smaller one on top is where we brew the tea leaves. This lets everyone adjust how strong they want their tea when serving.
For the tea, we usually use Turkish loose black tea. Our favorite is a mix of Çaykur Çay Çiçeği and Tomurcuk (Earl Grey), but there are lots of other options to try. We'll talk more about different Turkish tea varieties later in this post.
You'll also need water for both teapots. The amount depends on the size of your çaydanlık. We simply fill each teapot to the level where the spout joins the pot.
How to Make Turkish Tea
Making Turkish tea is actually really easy! The only thing that takes a little patience is waiting for it to brew.
Start by filling the larger, bottom teapot with water, up to where the spout joins the pot. Bring it to a boil.
Once the water boils, pour some into the smaller, upper teapot, filling it to where its spout joins the pot. Add your tea leaves (we use 2 tablespoons) and put the lid on.
Now refill the bottom teapot with water and put it back on the stove, with the smaller teapot sitting on top.
When the water in the bottom teapot boils again, turn off the heat completely. Leave the teapots as they are for about 10 minutes. No need to stir or do anything else!
And that's it! Once the tea leaves have settled, your Turkish tea is ready to serve.
For detailed step-by-step instructions, see the recipe card below.
Give the Tea Leaves Time to Settle
One of the most important things when making Turkish tea is to give the tea leaves enough time to settle at the bottom of the teapot before serving.
If lots of leaves are still floating on top, the tea needs more time to brew. The flavor hasn't fully developed yet, so give it a few more minutes.
A well-brewed Turkish tea should have most of its leaves settled at the bottom and a beautiful, clear reddish-brown color. That's when you know it's ready!
Don't worry if a few leaves are still floating. That's perfectly normal.
How to Serve It
Turkish tea is traditionally served in small, tulip-shaped glasses. We love these glasses because you can see the beautiful reddish color of the tea! But of course, you can enjoy it in your favorite mug, too.
When pouring, start with the brewed tea from the upper teapot, filling the glass a little less than halfway. Then top it up with hot water from the bottom teapot.
The nice thing about this method is that everyone can have their tea just how they like it. Some prefer it strong (demli), while others like it lighter (açık). We usually ask our guests how strong they'd like theirs.
Serve Turkish tea with sugar cubes or granulated sugar and thin lemon slices on the side, so everyone can add some if they like. We personally drink ours without sugar.
And don't forget, Turkish tea is best enjoyed hot and freshly brewed!
There's No Wrong Time or Place for Tea in Türkiye
If you've ever been to Türkiye, you probably know what we mean! Tea is everywhere, and there's always a good reason to put the kettle on.
We drink it with breakfast, after meals, during work breaks, or simply when we feel like having a cup.
You might see people sipping tea at an open-market (pazar), by the seaside, or while getting their hair cut at a barber's or hair salon. Many restaurants even offer a free glass of tea after your meal!
Walk into a small shop and you might be offered a glass of tea while you browse.
Visit someone's home and tea is usually one of the first things they'll offer you. Sometimes they don't even ask if you want any. They just say, "I'm making tea!"
And one glass is rarely enough! It's quite normal to have several glasses while sitting around the table, chatting with family or friends. Even if you say you've had enough after one glass, someone will probably offer you another!
Even though we now live in the UK, this is one Turkish habit we've never given up. There's always a pot of tea brewing in our kitchen.
What to Serve with Turkish Tea
Turkish tea goes with almost anything, but we especially love it with a traditional Turkish breakfast. A glass of hot tea alongside fresh bread, cheese, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, and a plate of menemen or sucuk and eggs is hard to beat!
And of course, there's simit! This sesame-crusted bread and Turkish tea are such a classic combination.
Turkish tea is also perfect with homemade pastries. Here are a few of our favorites:
- Spinach and Cheese Börek – A savory pastry with layers of phyllo, spinach and cheese.
- Turkish Gözleme – Thin, soft flatbread filled with spinach and cheese.
- Pişi (Turkish Fried Dough) – Soft, puffy pieces of fried dough, perfect with cheese or jam on the side.
- Poğaça – Soft, fluffy Turkish buns filled with cheese or potatoes. Perfect with a glass of hot tea.
In the afternoon, we love having tea with homemade cookies, like our apple cookies (elmalı kurabiye), or a slice of cake, especially our revani. And when we have guests, we almost always put something on the table to enjoy with their tea.
Which Tea to Use
There are so many Turkish black teas to choose from! Çaykur is one of the best-known tea brands in Türkiye, with several varieties, including Rize Turist, Tiryaki, Kamelya, Filiz, Altınbaş, and Çay Çiçeği. They all have slightly different flavors, so it's worth trying a few to find your favorite.
Our personal favorite is Çaykur Çay Çiçeği mixed with a little Tomurcuk, a bergamot-flavored tea similar to Earl Grey. We love the subtle aroma it adds without overpowering the regular black tea. This is the combination we make most often at home.
You might also hear people in Türkiye talking about kaçak çay, which literally means "smuggled tea." The name comes from the days when some teas were brought into Türkiye illegally. These teas are now legally imported, but the old name has stuck! It's especially used for Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka, which has a stronger, bolder, and slightly bitter, astringent flavor compared to Turkish black tea. Some people enjoy it on its own, while others mix it with Turkish tea.
Can you use tea bags instead? Of course! Tea bags are common in Türkiye too. We like Doğadan Gizli Bahçe and Earl Grey teapot bags. When using these, we simply put 3 bags in the upper teapot and brew them using the same method. But loose leaf tea is definitely our favorite. We think it gives the best flavor!
And don't feel like you have to stick to just one tea. You can mix a couple of varieties to create your own blend and brew it using the method we've shared above. Try different combinations and see what you enjoy most!
Can You Make Turkish Tea Without a Double Teapot?
Of course! But first, let's explain why we use a traditional Turkish double teapot, called a çaydanlık.
The larger bottom pot holds hot water, while the smaller pot on top holds the strong brewed tea. This lets everyone make their tea as strong or light as they like. The heat from the bottom pot also helps the tea brew gently without sitting directly on the heat, and keeps both pots warm for serving.
If you don't have a çaydanlık, you can use a regular teapot and a kettle instead. Simply boil the water in your kettle and use your teapot to brew the tea, following the same method we've explained above.
The main difference is that you can't stack them to keep the tea warm, so you might need to boil some fresh water when you're ready for another glass.
And if you'd like to get a traditional çaydanlık, you can find one at online Turkish shops or on Amazon. Just search for "Turkish teapot" or "Turkish tea set."
Can You Reheat Turkish Tea?
We recommend drinking Turkish tea within an hour of brewing it for the best flavor. But if it gets cold during that time, you can definitely reheat it!
Simply place the smaller teapot back on top of the larger one with hot water in it, and warm it gently. Never put the smaller teapot directly on the heat.
You can also leave the double teapot on the lowest heat while you're enjoying your tea.
After an hour or so, the tea starts to lose its lovely flavor, so we'd rather make a fresh pot than reheat it hours later.
More Turkish Drinks to Try
If you love Turkish tea, there are plenty of other Turkish drinks worth trying! Here are a few of our favorites:
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📖 Recipe
How to Make Turkish Tea (Çay)
INGREDIENTS
- 2-3 tablespoons loose black tea leaves, we use 2, see Note 1
- 600 ml (2½ cups) water, for the upper teapot (see Note 3)
- additional water, for the lower teapot
INSTRUCTIONS
- Fill the lower, larger teapot with water up to the level where the spout joins the teapot. Bring it to a boil.
- Once it boils, pour some of the boiling water into the upper, smaller teapot, filling it to the level where the spout joins the teapot. Add the loose tea leaves and put the lid on.
- Top up the lower teapot with water, place it back on the stove, and set the upper teapot on top.
- Let the water in the lower teapot come to a boil again. Once it boils, turn off the heat completely. Let the teapots rest for about 10 minutes.
- Remove the lid of the upper teapot and check whether the tea leaves have swollen and mostly settled at the bottom. The tea should have a beautiful reddish-brown color. A few leaves floating on top are perfectly fine. If there are still lots of leaves on the surface, let it sit a little longer.
- Pour some brewed tea from the upper teapot into a Turkish tea glass, usually filling it a little less than halfway. Top it up with hot water from the lower teapot. Adjust the amount of brewed tea to make it as strong or light as you like. (see Note 4)
- Keep the teapots on the lowest heat while serving so the tea stays hot. In Türkiye, we rarely stop at one glass! It's common to have two, three, or even more, refilling our glasses as we go.
- Serve with sugar cubes or granulated sugar and thin lemon slices on the side so everyone can add some to their tea if they like.
NOTES
NUTRITION
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Patricia Seitz says
THANK you for this post. While I was in Turkey several years ago I was introduced and fell in love with this traditional tea. When I got back to the USA I purchased a traditional teas pot and have rrely used it for tea, it's more of a decoration. Recently I've been thinking about making Turkish tea. Today's instructions areperfect .
Zerrin & Yusuf says
Hi Patricia,
What lovely timing! We're so happy our post came just when you were thinking about making Turkish tea again! And how wonderful that you already have a traditional Turkish teapot! Sounds like it's time to put it to use.
Hope your first cup brings back some lovely memories of your trip to Türkiye. Enjoy!
binsu says
hi there i would like to see a video of the brewing process or a step by step of the small tea pot in a larger one photos.. 😀
Zerrin & Yusuf says
Hi Binsu,
It is in our list. Hope to make it soon. If you have a question until then, feel free to ask.
Maricruz Kruse says
Why my tea is not coming red?
Zerrin & Yusuf says
What color is yours?
The color might depend on the quality of the tea leaves. Also it might be lighter or darker depending on how much boiling water you pour over the brewed tea in the glass.
Mariam says
I absolutely love Turkish tea, thank you so much for sharing this recipe!!
If I wanted to make the tea for 3-4 people, how many tablespoons of tea leaves would I use and how much water in the top pot please and if there is leftovers, can I drink it on the following day?
Zerrin & Yusuf says
Hi Mariam,
Thank you for asking these questions. It really depends on how many glasses each person will drink. As Turkish people, we drink several glasses when we brew a pot of tea. Normally, 4 or 5 tablespoons of tea leaves are fine for 3-4 people. There is no strict measurements for it indeed. You can pour water over the leaves until the hole in the top pot. After it is brewed, you will pour the brewed tea in the top pot into the glasses first, then pour water from the bottom pot over it. You can test and decide how much dark or light you want your tea.
As for the second question, well we don't recommend drinking the leftovers on the following day. The taste will be bitter as the leaves wait for a long time.
Hope these help. Please feel free if you have any more questions about Turkish tea.
Ella says
I love the post. I just bought the tea maker and the glases yesterday. I wonder how long can the tea stay in a pot ? And does it get stronger by reheating it or just staying in a pot for a few hours ?
Thank you very much 😊
Zerrin & Yusuf says
Hi Ella! Great question! Thank you for asking this 🙂 It can stay fresh for 2-3 hours. That being said, it doesn't go bad even after 4-5 hours. Just the taste is not the same. It gets stronger as it sits in the pot. Even if you put less tea and more water in your glass, the taste is not as fresh, but still good. Enjoy your tea!
Simge TurkishTaste says
I love Turkish tea and it is a ritual in our home to drink tea everyday. Thanks for your post! I like it so much
Avirag says
Wow, Its a good post about turkish Tea. I searched cay on net and came to this page. Certainly I want to taste it now, hopefully I would get it in my town. Thanks for this beautiful and informative post.
Yusuf says
Glad you liked Turkish tea and the post about it. Hope you can find authentic Turkish tea.
Michelle says
I love this post - I visited Turkey last year and simply fell in love. The food, the place but above all, the people! They are so friendly and welcoming, and really can't do enough for you. Had hoped to go back this year, but with the lockdown in effect, that sadly hasn't happened. Still, I have my Turkish tea and genuine Turkish tea set, as well as my Turkish rice to keep me going until I can go back. #Sigh#... I miss you Turkey!
Marsida says
I love Turkish tea so much. Please may i know how much water has to be in the large pot? As you said more than half of the water we have to put in the small pot, it is not clear for me how much has to be in the big one. Please explain to me because I am not doing it right.
Yusuf says
The amount in the big pot is really not important indeed because you serve the tea in glasses by filling one third of it with the brewed tea from the smaller pot first and then fill the rest with hot water from the large pot. Hope this helps.
Adina says
I love Turkish tea, we get it sometimes in Turkish restaurants around here, but it is usually very sweet. I don't normally drink sweetened tea, but I love it in this case. 🙂 Your post was very interesting to read.
Zerrin says
Sweet? Are they serving the tea sweet? We never add sugar before serving it. We serve sugar cubes or granulated sugar on the side because you can never know how sweet a person wants his tea. Oh and lots of people like me love their tea with no sugar at all.
Manan says
Are u from Turkey?
Zerrin & Yusuf says
Yes we are from Turkey but living in the UK 🙂
Aysegul Sanford says
Ahhhhh I am in love with this post. Having been living outside of Turkey for many years, Turkish tea is one of those things that I missed the most. Like you said, it is a way of life. The kind that you can find anywhere else, but in Turkey.
Gorgeous photos as always. Cheers!
Zerrin says
Thanks my friend! I know, living without tea in daily life must be really hard for someone who grew up in this culture. You know our tea pot is always on the stove. Come join us!
Christa @ Exploring The Turkish Kitchen says
I ♥ Turkish tea but that blue çaydanlık is amazing, why do I imagine çay would taste even better using such a fab pot?!
Zerrin says
Hi Christa! I just fell in love with this çaydanlık when I saw it on a shopping website. My grandma used to have one that is exactly same as this blue tea pot. It's great that nostalgic items like this have become popular again.
Xant says
Love the post. I would love to know where to find the blue caydanlik. Any hint is much appreciated
Yusuf says
Thank you so much! We bought it from a local store when we were in Turkey. But I think you can find it on online shops when you search for 'enamel teapot.' Hope this helps.
Elizabeth says
You can find a similar one on FairTurk.com
Elke says
Ellerinize sağlık ikinize de for a great blog and the wonderful photos to complement the writing. I really enjoyed this particular article.
Kristina @maptrotting says
This is a wonderful post! Really enjoyed reading it. We have recently come back from Istanbul where we had endless amounts of Turkish tea and I was just wondering how it's prepared 🙂 The photos are stunning, especially the last 2! 🙂
Zerrin says
Thank you Kristina! So you know how much we as Turkish people love tea. I sometimes have more than ten cups a day! Hope you have a chance to make it yourself.