If you live and breathe coffee, then we are sure you would have come across Turkish coffee.

Turkish Coffee dates back to the 15th century and is more than a cup of beverage for the Turks. It is a symbol of friendship, a medium of social chitchat and a tool for fortune-telling. It is said that a cup of coffee is remembered for 40 years.

Below we give you some interesting facts about Turkish coffee that you probably didn’t know.

It did not originate in Turkey

The first evidence of Turkish coffee was discovered in Ethiopia and spread to Yemen in the 15^th century. From Yemen, the coffee expanded to Istanbul before reaching Europe.

Foam equals quality

If you want to know that your cup of Turkish coffee is of good quality, look at the foam on top of the cup. This coffee generally has unique soft and plush foam on top, which helps keep the coffee warm for a longer time.

The glass of water served with the coffee

The glass of water served alongside the Turkish coffee has a multipurpose meaning. For hospitable Turks, guests are very important. Therefore, they observe what the guest drinks first to help determine if they are hungry. If water is drunk first, then the guest is hungry and food is prepared. Furthermore, the water acts as a palate cleanser before and after the coffee.

Brides use salt in Turkish coffee

In Turkish tradition, the bride prepares coffee with salt to signal her feelings for the groom. A high amount of salt means that she is not interested, moderate means the boy is fine and less means she is ready to get married. If the groom drinks the whole cup of salty coffee, he proves his willingness to marry the girl.

Turkish coffee has health benefits

Turkish coffee contains antioxidants that are associated with many health benefits. The coffee helps balance the level of cholesterol and fat in the body. It also aids in preventing heart and digestive problems. Furthermore, the coffee is also associated with relaxing the mind and increasing concentration.

The coffee is under UNESCO protection

The Turkish coffee is on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The decision was made in 2013 in Baku during the eighth session of the Intergovernmental Committee of UNESCO.

Enjoy this cup of delicious, hot and frothy coffee with a few pieces of Turkish delights.