A World of Tea: Iran

In this instalment of our series "A World of Tea," we turn our attention to Western Asia – specifically Iran. Although the country may not evoke the same tea connotations as, for example, China, Iran's tea history nonetheless has a certain connection to China. Join us on a trip to Persia and learn more about Iranian tea culture.

Tea Culture in Iran

Iran is a country with proud tea traditions, and is currently the world's 9th largest producer of tea. Iranians themselves enjoy the majority of the tea produced locally, but they also import tea from India and Africa.

Once, coffee was the most popular drink in Iran, but by the end of the 16th century, tea became more accessible thanks to the Silk Road, which led to China. In Iran, special teahouses, chaikhanehs, were popular meeting places for men, where they could enjoy tea and sweets, while women drank tea at home.

Iran's tea history also has an intriguing twist. Kashef Al Saltaneh, Tehran's first mayor, established tea plantations in 1882 in Gilan, a region in northwestern Iran by the Caspian Sea. He brought seeds from India and posed as a French laborer on the plantations to gain access to knowledge about tea production. As a former ambassador to India, he was aware that the British kept important information about tea production secret.

By exploiting his diplomatic status, he avoided luggage inspection during his journey home. His efforts contributed to the development of tea production in Iran.

In Iran, tea is consumed in the same way as in Russia and Turkey, using the samovar method. Pre-brewed tea concentrates are diluted with water according to individual preferences. When enjoying tea in Iran, small sugar cubes are used, placed between the teeth while drinking. Sometimes saffron is also added to give the tea an extra dimension of flavor.