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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Traditional Turkish Coffeehouses..

On my previous post there was a lovely photo of two men playing backgammon from Oytun Orgul. The photograph was taken in the Tahmis Coffeehouse in Gaziantep , a city in the south-eastern part of Turkey.


I have visited the very same coffeehouse couple years ago as most of the visitors of Gaziantep. Tahmis is a famous place as it was operated as a coffeehouse since 1903 by the members of the same family. During the Ottoman period, the building was known to built to supply income to the nearby lodge used by Mevlevi dervishes.

The first coffeehouses started to open in İstanbul in the 15th century. Along way to Starbucks... And since then they have played an important role in the Turkish culture. With the effect of the Islam while women entertain themselves inside the houses, men usually meet at a coffeehouse for recreation and communication. Traditionally it is a male dominated place.
A traditional coffeehouse is very much look like Tahmis, very basic furniture and a small kitchen for tea or coffee. While customers mostly chat, it is also very common to play backgammon and other card games.



While the modern coffee shops and chains invaded the big streets of the cities, you could still find tradional coffeehouses everywhere. In big cities just look at the side streets or lower and middle income neighbourhoods. In rural areas, they are usually at the center of the town. Although it is a male dominated place, there is no law against women to enter other than the cultural values.


I usually like to spend some time at a coffeehouse, when we are visiting small villages. It is an excellent way to meet with the locals and learn all the gossip. Why coffeehouses are still very popular? Maybe you could find the answer in an old Turkish proverb; '' one cup of coffee is worth 40 years of friendship''

27 comments:

  1. I love traditional coffeehouses and that one is just beautiful.The Turkish proverb is very true.
    I enjoyed reading your post.
    Have a wonderful day:)
    xxx

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  2. What a nice post. I love seeing pictures of other places far far away! This looks like a nice spot to enjoy a cup of java!

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  3. Hi! this is a great post! when I lived in Vienna I went to lots of famous coffeeshops, but the coffee is famous in Viena because the turkish brought it to the city... and I had a very good turkish friend named Güven who always invited me to have a cup of turkish coffee in his uncle's coffeeshop... Here in Mexico there are a lot of independant coffeeshops still, that's a good thing...! Hope it keeps that way all around the world... have a great day!!!

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  4. I prefer finding hidden coffee houses as opposed to the Starbucks. Much more character in decor and customers.

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  5. so very interesting...such a different world, the idea of men communing...I was just talking to a friend last night and men in America don't commune except for sports. A lot of men don't have friends. It is quite sad. I'm going to bring this up at our soccer game...

    MUCH LOVE and thanks for opening my eyes a little wider...

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  6. Such beautiful windows on that building! I've not yet had the pleasure of tasting Turkish coffee, but understand that it is exceptional. Your post brought back warm memories of a hidden coffeehouse in a nearby city during my senior year of high school. My best friend and I became "regulars" there and felt we were very sophisticated for it. Thanks for this wonderful post!

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  7. so interesting! how do the locals typically take their coffee? black and strong?

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  8. As always I love your post and visits.This coffee house is very unique.I love it.Would you believe ,I've never drank coffee.But I love the smell,and I have been in coffee houses.They are everywhere in New Orleans.I love the old atmosphere.You take care dear..XXOO Marie Antionette

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  9. Awesome post! A great explanation of the social and cultural dynamics of coffeehouses in that part of the world. Loved this and thank you for sharing it!

    Nevine

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  10. mmmm coffee...awesome. i make it a point to find good coffee everywhere i visit !
    have a great day ~ L

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  11. I'd love to sit and chat with you over a cup of coffee there. What kind of coffee would you order? Love your last shot of the chairs.

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  12. I miss my days of exotic travel...

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  13. During college in Zurich, me and a bunch of others would meet once a week at the "Turk", a Turkish Coffee House that now is no longer. I loved it!

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  14. It's an amazing experience to be at a coffee house. The setup looks very similar to what we call IRANI hotel here in mumbai. Nice, a bit noise, a lot quiet on may ocassions. You could just carry your laptop or a diary and spend a lot of time sipping 2-3 cups of coffee....

    - Pixellicious Photos

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  15. These kinds of coffeehouses are the best. I prefer these to large, commercial-type coffeehouses. I bet the coffee at the Tahmis Coffeehouse is so good.

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  16. I love traditional coffee houses. Since i'm not much for coffee I became totally addicted to apple tea when we were in Turkey. I really liked how you described the local coffee house culture there. :)

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  17. "I'd like to have a Turkish coffee, medium sweet, thank you." :)

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  18. The photo you are referring to of the two men playing backgammon is my favorite from your previous post..Oh how I would love to sit in that coffe house and smell the aroma and just observe. I have never even been into a Starbucks or had there coffee, I love little quaint places like this. Your posts are always soulful and beautiful!!
    xx
    Bunny

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  19. Fascinating look inside a Turkish coffee house. I love that old proverb, too.

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  20. That looks like a FAB place for coffee!

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  21. Oh, I could use a whole day in a place like that; reading, writing, knitting, looking at blogs....would be heaven!!

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  22. I enjoyed reading this - lived in Turkey 30 years ago! Coffee houses don't change much!!

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  23. Great proverb. I guess the love of coffeehouses is universal. No matter where you travel you will find the locals gathered at a coffeehouse. It's a great way to connect with friends.

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  24. Aren't those men mainly older? What about the young men and women? Are they still going there, or perhaps they prefer Starbucks?

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  25. I hope they live long. I'd rather have the diversity of ownership lending an unique atmosphere than a standardised look and feel of the coffee chains run by franchises.

    Coffee houses of Calcutta come to my mind reading of your post.

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  26. Great history. I like these traditional coffeehouses. I try to find smaller places anywhere I go instead of just going to Starbucks.

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  27. I've never really thought much about Turkey. It seems to far away and so foreign but you make it sound so inviting.

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