09.01.2026 14:36
Turkey's tea-loving city has become Gaziantep, famous for its baklava. The gastronomic city has surpassed the provinces in the Black Sea Region, known as the homeland of tea. Gaziantep residents, stating that they drink tea from breakfast until they go to sleep, said, "We drink no less than 40-50 cups of tea a day. When there is plenty of conversation, tea is consumed abundantly as well."
The city of Gaziantep, frequently mentioned for its rich cuisine and 108 flavors certified with geographical indication by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT), including "Antep Baklava," "Antep Pistachio Paste," and "Menengiç Coffee," has also taken the lead in tea consumption.
Gaziantep, the city where tea is the essential and symbolic beverage of hospitality, friendship, and deep conversations, ranked at the top of the list prepared by the General Directorate of Tea Enterprises (ÇAYKUR) regarding tea consumption habits in Turkey.
THEY START DRINKING TEA AT BREAKFAST AND CONTINUE UNTIL BEDTIME In Gaziantep, the city that consumes the most tea in Turkey, tea-loving citizens start drinking tea from breakfast and continue until they go to bed at night. The tea served in slender glasses stands out as the strongest symbol of deep conversations, sincerity, and hospitality in Gaziantep, one of the leading cities in tea addiction.
IT LEFT THE BLACK SEA PROVINCES BEHIND In Gaziantep, where tea consumption has almost turned into a lifestyle, teapots never cool down in tea houses, homes, workplaces, and cafes throughout the day. Gaziantep, which has surpassed the provinces in the Black Sea Region known as the "homeland" of tea addiction, consumes tea so frequently that it has become an indispensable part of daily life for Gazianteps.
TEA IS READY AT EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY With its rich culinary culture, Gaziantep is gaining a new identity with the rise in tea consumption, where tea holds an important place in family and friend gatherings at any hour of the day. In Gaziantep, where the habit of visiting cafes and tea houses is widespread, citizens especially prefer to drink tea as a beverage after meals. The price of tea, which is consumed at all hours of the day and is a central element of social life, is sold in tea houses for 10 to 20 TL.
"I SAW A CUSTOMER DRINK 33 CUPS OF TEA" Aladdin Demir, who has been running a tea house for 50 years, stated that Gazianteps love tea, which is the indispensable beverage of deep conversations and friendships. He expressed that they were not surprised that Gaziantep is the city with the highest tea consumption in Turkey, saying, "I have been doing this since I was 7 years old. Tea addiction in Gaziantep is something else. I saw a customer drink 33 cups of tea. After drinking tea, he said, 'Now my mind is clear.' Tea is not a filling drink. It is a pleasure drink. After meals, 4-5 cups of tea are consumed. When friends gather, tea is definitely served. Coffee doesn't hold much appeal. Generally, there is a lot of tea addiction. They have done a proper study. Gaziantep really consumes a lot of tea. But there is also this: Gaziantep's way of brewing tea is very nice, and we brew tea with steam. We don't put it on the fire. This prevents the tea from becoming bitter. Even if you drink 10 cups of tea, it won't upset your stomach or bother you. The least tea drinkers consume 3-5 cups. Honestly, we can't keep up with the tea supply. We also take it to shops. Since Gaziantep is a hospitable city, tea is offered to everyone. Hospitality is inherent in Gaziantep," he said.
"WE CAN'T STOP DRINKING TEA" Hakan Demir, one of the citizens who stated that tea is an indispensable beverage for Gazianteps, expressed that they drink tea from morning until evening, saying, "We are tea addicts and we can't stop drinking tea. When we don't drink tea, we get headaches. When tea is mentioned, the flowing waters stop. We drink tea as soon as we open our eyes in the morning. We drink tea at noon. We drink tea in the evening. When guests come or when we visit someone, we drink tea. I drink 15-20 cups of tea daily, but some of my friends drink 30-35 cups," he said.
"WE DRINK AT LEAST 40-50 CUPS A DAY" Mehmet Yılmaz, who stated that they love drinking tea, mentioned that he drinks 50 cups of tea in environments where deep conversations and chats take place, saying, "Gaziantep is a place that loves conversation, friendship, and hospitality. Tea is consumed while sitting with guests. The reason tea is consumed a lot, especially in winter, is that it keeps people warm. We start drinking tea from breakfast until we go to bed. We don't drink less than 40-50 cups a day. When there is a lot of conversation, tea is also consumed abundantly. The people of Gaziantep love tea very much. Tea is definitely consumed after meals. We drink tea until we go to bed. We love tea. Tea is our indispensable beverage," he said.