As you know sand is used in the production of many other items, in liquid form to manufacture glass, and is also used for molding metal casting. Sand is used when making sandpaper as well. It can be used as an abrasive in the process of sandblasting which cleans structural elements, steelwork, etc.
Coffee should be Black as Hell, Strong as Death and Sweet as Love.
Turkish Proverb
That’s not all… it was used once upon a time to make coffee by the Turks. Basically, it’s drinking the coffee beans instead of it being filtered out. It’s stronger and thicker than other brewing methods.
The process of making a cup of Turkish coffee is brewed using a pan filled with sand, heated over an open flame. The sand-filled pan allows for total control over the heat. Cups that are left on the surface stay warm and the heat that is used for brewing can be adjusted by the depth of the coffee in the sand.
The fine coffee grinds and water are added to a Cezve or Ibrik (a small long-handled pot with a pouring lip designed specifically to make Turkish coffee) and placed in the hot sand. The sand creates an even heat all around, and the coffee foams to the top almost immediately. The cezve is removed, added to the sand three to four times and served in a small cup. The coffee grounds quickly settle to the bottom making for a strong, thick cup of coffee.
Where it all began?
Turkish coffee was first introduced into Turkey around 1540. History says that it was introduced by the Turkish Governor of Yemen, Ozdemir Pasha. He discovered a new beverage in his region. I’ll let you guess what it was… He made sure to bring it to the attention of the Sultan, Suleiman the Magnificent.
In 1656 the Ottoman Grand Vizier Koprulu issued laws to shut down the coffee houses. This act came as a shock to the people of Turkey who loved them. Punishment for breaking the law was extreme. It ranged from beating to drowning. It was believed that they served as meeting places for discussing politics and ways to take down the Sultan. The government in power viewed the coffee houses as a threat and had to put a stop to them immediately
Enough with the heavy, A bride traditionally serves coffee to her potential groom and his parents. It has been suggested that upon making the coffee if she leaves the groom’s coffee bitter it was a message that she was unhappy with her potential partner. When the potential groom and parents are introduced to the bride-to-be’s parents, it is a tradition that the bride makes Turkish coffee, putting sugar in everyone’s cup except the groom’s, in which the sugar is substituted with salt, some people add pepper. The expectation is that the groom finishes the cup of coffee without noticeable aversion, symbolizing his manliness. Another claim is that a woman was even allowed to divorce a husband if he didn’t provide her with a requested daily amount of coffee.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this little history lesson about Turkish Coffee.
