I Didn’t Expect Tea to Teach Me This Much!!!

It started with tea, but it ended with something much deeper

Photo by David Brooke Martin on Unsplash

When visiting Kazakhstan, I did not limit myself only to travels and sampling local dishes. As a student of a foreign language, I was interested to know more about national traditions. One day, a friend of mine who lives there offered to meet at his apartment and drink tea together.

At first, I thought that we will spend a few minutes conversing while having a cup of black tea. However, I did not expect then that this day would become memorable, giving new views on various aspects of life.

Thus, the first interesting feature connected with drinking tea in Kazakhstan concerns the table. When coming into a house, we can notice that cups for tea are standing upside down. Then, when everyone gathers, a mother will turn cups to their right side and pour warm water into it. Moreover, it is interesting that she fills it with half of water. By doing this, she tries to make sure that tea would be warm enough and makes refilling as a manifestation of hospitality.

Also, we may see that a Kazakh table, prior to starting a conversation over tea, is filled with different kinds of food. We will find there bread, butter, cheese, jam, sweets, chocolate, nuts, and baursak. The amount of dishes seems so much that drinking “simple tea” looks unimportant. However, it is a usual condition for any Kazakh table.

Coming there expecting to be provided with only tea, I realized later that I enjoyed much more.

The origin of tea goes far back, when this product reached Kazakhstan via the Silk Road. The climate of this region made tea become essential for people. Therefore, it has become not only a part of the daily routine but also a symbol of hospitality.

Until today, tea remained inseparable of Kazakhstan. Every family has it, every guest drinks it. For people living in this country, tea represents a welcoming symbol to everyone who enters their house.

The table used for drinking tea is always rich and plentiful of food dishes no matter whether visitors are expected or not. Baursak is also served, along with kurt which is dried cheese with its salty flavor. In addition, there is always bread, butter, jam, sweet, nuts, and also full-meal dishes if a meeting may last longer.

According to the tradition, a visitor shall never experience a shortage of dishes.

Gradually, I realized the special atmosphere created by hospitality. Drinking tea, chatting and spending hours in good company, I felt how hospitability of this family affects me. My glass was constantly filled with tea even if there was still some left. The sense of time blurring was also noticeable as I expected to leave rather soon but did not do so.

One after another, many other guests came to us, and we started chatting in different languages: Russian, Kazakh, English — sometimes we mixed them with gestures, using also some words we did not know. However, everything was fun.

Looking at the clock, I found out that my visit was extended till the end of the evening. Moreover, a guest was prepared dinner, which was also unexpected for me.

At present times, in big Kazakh cities like Almaty and Astana tea remains the most popular drink both at home, offices and restaurants. It is more preferable to coffee, becoming increasingly popular in Kazakhstan. Business is conducted over a cup of tea.

The most important aspect for me connected with this tradition is an atmosphere that can be created by it and hospitality in general. Despite being a stranger and a guest, I was accepted by this family and treated like a member of it.

Thus, I realized that tea in Kazakhstan does not mean drinking it. This process is long and includes drinking many cups of tea.

Have you ever experienced hospitality that stayed with you long after you left? I’d love to hear your story.

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