Features of armudu cups

In some countries, drinking tea or coffee is not just a lunch break or a morning ritual, it is a whole tradition. Such countries are, for example, Azerbaijan, where the tradition of tea drinking is highly valued, and Turkey, where coffee has a special place. Of course, in this case, special dishes are needed. It migrated to the vast expanses of Russia, and now armuds are gaining more and more popularity.

What are armuds for coffee and tea

Armuds are special oriental containers for tea and coffee. They are traditionally made of glass. They cannot be called mugs or cups, because they have a different shape from what we are used to.

Features of Armud:

• They do not have handles, unlike the mugs and cups we are used to.
• They have a pear-shaped (or tulip-shaped) shape: the top of the cup is wide, the bottom is narrower, and the central part is the narrowest.
• They are usually served in a glass holder with a handle or on a saucer.

In some ways they can be compared to tea glasses, which were used to serve tea, for example, on trains. They were also used with a glass holder.

The meaning of armud in Azerbaijan

In Azerbaijan, the tradition of tea drinking occupies a special place. The first mention of a teahouse in written sources of this country was in the 10th century. At that time, a teahouse was a special place where people gathered not only for tea drinking, but mainly to discuss the political life of the country and conduct philosophical conversations.

However, tea played a very important role in this establishment. The teahouse owner had to be able to brew very good and tasty tea. This played a leading role in choosing a place for conversations.

Note! In the old days, the whole city knew good teahouse owners by name, and people would come from other cities specifically to get into a certain teahouse.

Of course, tea was served in such establishments in special mugs – armudu. They had the same shape as the Turkish ones, only the locals compared their shape to the silhouette of a woman’s figure.

Moreover, the tradition of tea drinking was maintained not only in teahouses, but also in every home in Azerbaijan. Guests were required to be offered tea, and each family kept several sets of armudu cups: for everyday use and for banquets.

Where are the popular Turkish tea cups

The homeland of armuds is considered to be Persia. Translated from Farsi (Persian language), this word means "pear". However, as a result of multiple Turkish-Persian wars, armuds migrated to Turkey and took root there. Therefore, some researchers consider the Ottoman Empire (modern Türkiye) to be the homeland of armuds.

At the moment, these cups are popular in other Eastern countries, in European states, and also in the CIS.

Types and accessories of Azerbaijani mugs

During tea drinking, the armud is held by the middle or the top. However, if it is filled with hot liquid, this is not very comfortable. Therefore, there is a set of accessories for such cups that make them easier to use.

Armud with handle

European countries found it completely inconvenient to use a tea cup without a handle. This led to the emergence of a variety - armud with a handle. They have the same shape, are made of the same material, and can also have traditional painting. The only difference is the presence of a handle, which greatly simplifies the use of this dishware.

Coasters for cups

But traditional armuds do not have handles, so for convenience they are served in cup holders, which have this element. Cup holders were often used only for ceremonial tea parties, so they were made of silver and other precious metals, in the sultan's family - even gold.

Nowadays you can find sets of armud cup holders made of copper and other cheaper materials.

Saucer for armud cups

In Turkey and other eastern countries, saucers are used more often than cup holders. The latter were usually made of expensive metals and were intended for ceremonial events. Saucers were used in everyday life, as well as in the first teahouses.

Saucers are made of the same material as mugs. They are usually sold as a set. Often such a set is complemented by a teapot made in the same style.

Turkish Teaware Materials

Not only the shape, but also the material of manufacture is intended for comfortable tea drinking. Initially, armudu was blown from glass. It had to be transparent, without darkening, bubbles and other defects. This was done in order to be able to check the transparency of the tea.

The quality of tea is clearly visible in crystal glassware, which is why it was the most popular. Moreover, crystal is considered a noble glass, and was used to make glassware only for nobles.

Nowadays, of course, glassblowers have been replaced by production machines, so armuda is made from different materials and of any variety.

Glass classic armudu

The classic of the genre is glass. Modern manufacturers do not depart from tradition either. At the moment, there is no such strictness regarding the crystal transparency of cups, however, quality control exists, and there should be no defects, of course.

Glass armudu can be transparent or have a pattern. Turkish cups are decorated with traditional Turkish ornaments, while Azerbaijani cups are decorated with the patterns of this country. They usually consist of straight, curved lines and circles. But modern cups are often painted without regard to tradition, using any ornaments except animals.

A cheaper and safer option would be a set of cups made of plexiglass or plastic. They also have a transparent appearance, but are not as fragile and heavy.

Crystal sets

Crystal has long been considered a noble glass. It was used to make expensive dishes for the tables of nobles. In Azerbaijan, crystal armudu spent most of their time in cabinets and were taken out for celebrations. Now everyone can afford crystal cups, but this does not make them less attractive.

Crystal is glass with a high content of lead or barium oxide (up to 30%). This increases its plastic properties, which allows for glass carving. Therefore, crystal armudu is not painted, but intricate patterns are cut out on the surface. Also, the content of metal oxides increases the dispersion and refraction of light in crystal, due to which it shows an excellent play of light, like a diamond.

Of course, a crystal set will cost more than a glass or plastic one, but the appearance of the cups is worth it. It is also worth remembering that crystal is heavy and fragile, so a family with children should be careful and not let children near such a product.

Porcelain

Porcelain is a special type of ceramics. It has long been used to create tableware. Usually these were tea sets or vases.

Note: Chinese culture is famous for its rich cultural heritage of ceramic vases.

Hard porcelain is used to make the dishes, but it can also be of different thicknesses. If the mugs are made with a thin layer of porcelain, they will be translucent. Such armudu look especially attractive.

This material lends itself well to painting. Overglaze painting is used for dishes. The product is covered with glaze, fired, then paint is applied and fired again. Thanks to this technique, the paint fuses with the glaze, as a result of which the product becomes resistant to environmental influences and does not fade. As a rule, the painting is not rough, but the drawing itself may be somewhat convex.

Since the masters have a huge stock of patterns for armudu, and porcelain is perfect for this technique, these cups are richly decorated with painting. If you want to feel the full flavor of national dishes, buy porcelain armudu.

Ceramics (faience)

Faience, like porcelain, is a type of ceramics. The same materials are used for its production, only in different proportions, and a different firing technique is used.

Unlike porcelain, it has a characteristic shine and is more like glass. The finished product is covered with cream glaze, which makes it smoother and more slippery. Earthenware is usually made in a thick layer, so it is not as fragile as porcelain, but it is not translucent. Earthenware armudu are made opaque and covered with a large number of painted elements.

Painting with colored enamels has become very popular. It is applied to cream glaze, after which it is fired. A set of ceramic cups is cheaper, but has a simpler appearance. Previously, such cups, along with glass ones, were used for everyday tea drinking, and porcelain and crystal were left for celebrations.

Luxury Silver Turkish Cups

Silver cups have long since fallen out of use because they are inconvenient. Silver, like any metal, transmits heat well and quickly, and also remains hot for a long time after contact with hot liquid. Therefore, silver armudu are inconvenient for tea drinking, as they can cause burns. Moreover, silver quickly darkens, so it is impractical to use.

They were used by the nobles of Turkey, who drank sherbet from them. Since this liquid drink was served chilled, the material from which it was made was not important. Tea was usually served in glass armudu, which were placed in silver or gold cup holders.

If you want to buy a silver set, buy a smaller copy, which will be suitable for a gift or as a souvenir. Otherwise, they will simply be impractical.

How to Properly Serve and Drink Drinks from Armud Glasses

Drinks are served in such glasses with saucers or cup holders. When you buy a set of dishes, be sure to take care of the presence of these accessories.

In Azerbaijan, tea is served with jam or a piece of sugar. Refined sugar is not added to the tea, but placed on a saucer nearby. The guest dips it in the tea and eats it with the tea. This is a tradition. It dates back to ancient times. When there was a high probability of poisoning the ruler, and poison was often dripped onto a piece of sugar, then the presence of poison could be determined by dipping the sugar in the tea. If the liquid changes color or consistency, starts bubbling, then there was poison in the sugar. In the modern world, this is just an old tradition.

You can serve tea with any sweets. But if you want to follow the traditions and hold a beautiful tea ceremony, put a piece of sugar on a saucer, put baklava and jam or marmalade on the table in a crystal vase.

For what occasion can you give an oriental tea set?

You can give an oriental tea set for any occasion where a gift of tableware would be appropriate. There are no special traditions or restrictions. A set would be suitable, of course, for tea or coffee lovers. In the second case, the armudu should be smaller and intended specifically for coffee.

Important! As a gift, choose traditional armudu without a handle and with a national painting.

If it is a gift, it must comply with all the rules. And since you have decided to bring your friends an oriental tea set from Turkey, there can be no talk of any European style.

Usually such sets are sold for 4-6 persons. But there are also small sets for 2 persons. They will be appropriate as a gift to a couple or one person. The main thing is that the gift is appropriate and useful, which means it should be given to true tea connoisseurs.

Subtleties of caring for Azerbaijani teaware

Teaware is not washed in the usual way, using household chemicals. Cups are usually cleaned with baking soda. This procedure is carried out after several tea parties, when a small film is noticed on the walls. After the first or second use, the cups are simply doused with boiling water, rinsed and wiped dry with a towel.

Due to its unusual shape, armuda can be difficult to wash. Therefore, it is recommended to have a special curved brush for washing these cups. When serving tea, the mug is always doused with boiling water twice. This is done not only for hygienic purposes, but also to avoid pouring tea into a cold mug, otherwise it will cool down faster and may even change its taste.

Well-known manufacturers

The best manufacturers of real armudu are Turkish and German companies that have established production in Turkey. Their products are famous for their high quality, and the manufacturers have a large number of international awards and good sales.

Turkish manufacturers:

• Paşabahçe.
• Lav.
• Kutahya Porselen.
• Porland.
• Karaca.

German manufacturers:

• Schafer.
• Korkmaz.

Also pay attention to the Azerbaijani company Azercay, they also have beautiful armudu sets for sale.

VIDEO: What traditional tea pots look like.

50 photos of Turkish and Azerbaijani tea glasses armudu: