Tea is, without exaggeration, an essential part of daily life for the people of Iran. It plays a significant role in Iranian culture and traditions. Iran is among the countries with the highest tea consumption in the world. Traditional Iranian tea is black, usually heavily sweetened.
Iranian Tea: A Symbol of Persian Hospitality
The History and Importance of Tea in Iran
Today, Iran is a significant producer and consumer of tea, but its history with tea is relatively short compared to some other countries, such as China or India. Tea became more prominent in Iran only during the 19th century, influenced by the culture of neighboring countries, particularly Russia. Russian merchants and travelers likely introduced the practice of preparing tea using a samovar, which quickly spread in Iran and became an inseparable part of households, tea houses, cafes, and other social venues.
Iranians drink tea throughout the day, during welcoming guests, family gatherings, business meetings, and many festive occasions.
Iranian Tea and Its Preparation
Iranians prefer black tea. Tea is traditionally served in small glass cups and is often heavily sweetened with crystallized sugar or pieces of sugar chipped from a cone.
Iranians sometimes place sugar cubes directly into their mouths and slowly sip the tea through the sugar. This way of drinking is a distinctive feature of Iranian tea culture (though I personally never encountered it). What you will often see, however, is pouring hot tea onto a saucer and drinking it from there.
The Samovar and Its Use in Iran
The samovar is a traditional device for brewing tea, consisting of a large metal container with an internal tube. A fire is lit in the tube (typically using charcoal or, more commonly today, electricity), which heats the water in the container surrounding the tube. On top of the samovar, there is usually a teapot with concentrated tea extract. When serving, each person pours a small amount of this strong tea into their glass and dilutes it with hot water from the samovar to taste.
Tea Production in Iran
Iranian tea is primarily grown in the northern provinces of the country, especially in the Gilan region, as well as in the provinces of Mazandaran and Golestan along the Caspian Sea coast. These areas have suitable climatic conditions – high humidity, abundant rainfall, and mild temperatures – which enable successful tea cultivation.
Although tea production in Iran has a long history, domestic production does not meet the country’s high consumption demand. Iran must therefore import part of its tea, primarily from India, Sri Lanka, China, and other countries.
Cultural Aspects of Tea Drinking in Iran
Tea in Iran is a symbol of hospitality and friendship. Tea houses are a common feature of Iranian cities and villages, where people spend time chatting, listening to traditional music, playing games, or reading poetry. Serving tea to guests is considered a gesture of courtesy and respect.
Tea is simply an inseparable part of life in Iran.
