Serving çay is also a way to welcome guests and show kindness. It’s a special part of daily life that brings people together and helps them connect.
The Black Sea community drinks çay every day because it brings people together and shows hospitality. Sharing tea is a way to welcome guests warmly and build friendships. It also helps people relax and enjoy time with family or friends. Since tea grows well in the region’s climate, it became an important part of daily life and culture.
Yes, this tradition is closely connected to the environment in the Black Sea region. Tea wasn’t always grown here—people started planting tea in the early 20th century, around the 1920s and 1930s. The climate in the Black Sea region, especially in places like Rize, is perfect for growing tea because it is rainy, humid and has mild temperatures. The region’s lush green hills provide the ideal conditions for tea plants to thrive. Because tea grows so well here, it became a major crop and an important part of the local economy and culture. This made drinking çay a natural daily tradition that connects people to their land and history.
