Samovars being sold at a bazaar
Iran has
a long tradition of tea, which isn’t too difficult to deduct. Long stretches of
the Silk Road (network) ran through Persia. It is the national drink in Iran.
Nothing happens without tea.
The
Northern part of Iran at the Caspian Sea has the suitable climate for the
cultivation of tea. Mohammad Mirza started the growing tea in the Gilan area in
1899. He brought sapling from Northern India to start the business.
Iranians
consume about 120 million kg of tea each year, but produce only about 5% of that
amount. In 2017 Iran had been the 5th largest importer of tea in the
world. The case is difficult as Trump hasn’t banned the tea trade, but the restriction
on financial transactions will have an impact on the trade. The biggest
exporters to Iran are India, Sri Lanka and Kenya.
In Iran
the prices for tea and sugar are already climbing – as much as prices for gas
are in Europe.
There
were lots of tea houses in the past, but this culture has been banned by
Ahmadinejad, as he thought these places to be dens of indecency. Nowadays there
are only expensive places left.
On the
roads you’ll see samovars under steam. People stop and have a tea. Or the two
elderly gentlemen I’ve met in a park, who had a gas stove to boil water for
tea.
In the
bazaar you can buy everything you need for tea. Pots, samovars, China ware, tea
glasses, etc. are on sale.
Let’s wait
and see, what happens. “Just wait and see” is in German “Abwarten und Tee
trinken” [wait and drink tea]. Maybe it doesn’t get as worse. I hope so for the
Iranians.
In the park
A fancy samovar for larger groups
Tea pots and other China ware in a bazaar
Tea glasses are available, too
An expoensive tea house, which has survived the ban
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