Tea ceremonies in Iran
Tea is a must have in any ceremony, be it a wedding, birthday or breaking fast. During special occasions, the party will start with tea, and served after meals, at the end of it, when sitting in front of the TV with family members and so on. It can be served with raisins, dates, dried mulberries, or any other type of sweet item.
Walk down any lane in any city and you will see many tea houses where the men folk gather around to chat over steaming cups of tea. Shopkeepers could be seen enjoying the morning with their first tea, perhaps exchanging pleasantries or embarking on the traditional “taarof” ceremony. Taarof is known as a ritual of talking, a politeness extended in the same manner for everyone so the playing field is flat for all.
Iranians love outdoors and spend many a holiday in the open. Even when they are out, tea is something that cannot be forgotten. During these times, they keep the kettles or the samovars on coal, to brew tea. It is believed that a well-defined smoky taste and aroma is generated when tea is brewed that way.
Tea is an omnipresent beverage as much as a national treasure. It defines times and brings people together, even if you are family or not.