The offering of a glass of sweet fragrant mint tea poured into coloured glasses, sat upon trays designed with geometric motifs, polygons or interlacing stars and arabesques is a symbol of welcome and hospitality. The technique of pouring tea from a handmade teapot is considered an art form and is served as a daily ritual upon every meal and encounter.

 

The tea is accompanied with hard lumps of sugar served up from one of a set of three canisters, one used for the storage of the tea, one for sugar and one for the mint. To refresh yourself after a long journey or a hot tea it is tradition to be sprinkled by your host with rose water from a rosewater sprinkler. Completing the tea ceremony is the samovar used to keep the water boiling for that never-ending cup!