Rize Çay — Eastern Black Sea Tea Producers

Turkish çay (tea) is produced almost exclusively in the Rize Province on Turkey's eastern Black Sea coast, where the region's high rainfall, acidic soils, and mild climate create ideal conditions for Camellia sinensis cultivation. Turkey is one of the world's largest tea consumers per capita, and the Rize tradition of double samovar brewing — a concentrated decoction diluted to personal taste — is one of the world's most distinctive tea preparation methods. The Rize çay producers maintain a distinct Ottoman-era tea garden culture that is inseparable from Turkish social life, commerce, and hospitality.

Rize tea is Turkey's national beverage and cultural touchstone, with the Rize Province producing virtually all of Turkey's domestic tea. The Turkish tea glass (ince belli — thin-waisted) and double-samovar service are globally recognised symbols of Turkish culture.