Istanbul, Turkey

Turkish Coffee Culture

$55

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Highlights

Immerse in the real Turkish coffee scene
Experience traditional, unknown, and third-wave coffee varieties
Learn how to play OKEY, a local game played at coffee shops
Explore the non-touristy, hipster neighborhood of Moda in Istanbul
Discover favorite coffee spots for the month

Description

Join Ilkin, a Turkish coffee lover, on a walk through Moda, a local and non-touristy neighborhood in Istanbul. Immerse yourself in the culture and history of Turkish coffee as you visit traditional, unknown, and modern coffee shops. Taste a variety of coffee styles, from pistachio coffee to Turkish coffee and coffee cocktails. Learn to play OKEY, a local game, in an old hidden coffee shop. Explore the vibrant coffee scene while discovering interesting stories and fun facts about Turkish coffee.

Who This Experience Is Good For

Perfect for coffee enthusiasts and those interested in Turkish culture and history.

Meet Our Local Host

Ilkin is a passionate Turkish coffee lover who will guide you through Moda's coffee scene. With his deep knowledge of coffee culture and history, he will share interesting stories and insights. Ilkin's love for traditional games like OKEY adds a unique element to the experience.

Itinerary

10 AM - Introduction to Moda and its coffee culture
Visit traditional, unknown, and modern coffee shops (5 in total)
Taste various coffee styles and learn about their origins
Learn to play OKEY in a hidden coffee shop
Explore the neighborhood and discover favorite coffee spots
1 PM - End of the event.

Questions to think about on the tour. We may or may not test you on a few, you have to join the experience to find out.

Why did Turks need a coffee made from pistachio?
How could women divorce their husband because of coffee?
How did the Turkish flag affect what goes good with coffee in Europe?
What made black tea more popular than coffee in Turkey?
How did the Ottoman Empire become the only country that produced and consumed coffee?
Which coffee shops do locals hangout in?

What’s Included

Local guide: Ilkin
5 different types of coffee drinks
OKEY game play
If you have an intolerance to caffeine, we may share the cups or you can drink the local drink "Ayran" at the end to get rid of the caffeine!

What’s Not Included

Extra food or drinks not mentioned

Know Before You Go

Minimum Needed: 2 people
Maximum Capacity: 8 people
Booking Deadline: 5 days before start date
Weather Dependent: No
Difficulty Level: Easy peasy
Special Clothing Required: Wear comfortable clothing and shoes
Special Dietary Restrictions: This is not a food tour. Food is your own expense
Extra Cash: Needed for tipping (Not mandatory: you liked the service Tip! You did not? Is ok not to Tip. 10% is good), additional services & souvenirs. ATMs are available in town.
Ground Transportation: Not included
Additional Information: Meet with İlkin at Field Moda.
Liabilities: The liability for any injury, loss, or damage incurred by participants is not assumed by Remote Year or its affiliates.

fREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NATION REVIEWS

Turkish Coffee Culture Explored and Sampled

Ilkin is a fantastic tour guide who is knowledgeable, amiable and passionate about Istanbul's coffee scene (He also gave me some good tips for other fun things to do in Istanbul)! We got to learn about traditional, rich Turkish coffee, as well as some blends with which I was not familiar (like Dibek coffee, a blend of hazelnut, carob, wild pistachio and cardamom), but were delicious to try. He took us to an array of coffee cafes showing the diversity of offerings in Kadikoy (the neighborhood in which we are living, on the Asia side of Istanbul), starting with the more traditional Fazil Bey'in Turk Kahvesi and ending with a cafe with a clever Breaking Bad television show theme. Enjoyed learning game of Okey, as well. I was surprised at how popular tea and coffee is in Kadikoy (can scarcely go 100 yards without seeing a coffee shop of some sort) and was grateful to learn more in depth about Istanbul and Turkeye's coffee culture.

There is no better way to dive deep into a culture than to sample its food and drink.

There is no better way to dive deep into a culture than to sample its food and drink. Ilkin was a great local host and guide for our coffee and tea tour. He took us to 5 different spots and we learned how to play Okey. The history of coffee in Istanbul is fascinating, and it was fun to have a guide explain everything to us as we went along. This is a great cultural & culinary tour that you don‚Äôt want to miss!

An interesting and interactive walk through Turkish coffee culture

An interesting and interactive walk through Turkish coffee culture and a great way to get to know the neighborhood!