Washington D.C. - The Yunus Emre Institute in Washington D.C. hosted the 9th edition of its fan-favorite Virtual Turkish Coffee Happy Hour on July 2nd, 2021. Guests joined this event to thoroughly understand Turkish coffee. They were able to learn about Turkish coffee’s history, cultural significance, brewing process, and eventually were able to show what they had learned in a competitive trivia game.
Guests were initially welcomed by Public Relations Assistant Matt, who went over the outline of the program. Once everyone was settled in, guests entered the misafir odası, meaning guest room in Turkish. They learned about the historical and cultural significance of Turkish coffee, dating back to the 16th century Ottoman Empire. To get a better idea of the brewing process, guests were able to enter the mutfak, meaning kitchen, and watch a video that demonstrates the proper way to make a good cup of Turkish coffee. The subsequent sohbet session, meaning chat, provided a nice break for guests to talk and ask questions about Turkish coffee. Finally, guests were able to compete with each other in a head-to-head trivia competition and the first prize winner will receive an authentic Turkish coffee set!
Guests were curious about Turkish delight, or lokum. The taste of the sweet treat made of cornstarch can come in a variety of flavors like pistachio or lemon. After talking about the taste of the Turkish coffee and accompanying sweets, the guests discussed the connection between ancient coffeehouses and modern. The guests were able to make comparisons from the culture of the coffee house to their own local tea and coffee shops. Connections were made between coffee houses, tea houses, and bathhouses as examples of the importance of community meeting places. The attendees enjoyed the program and mentioned how they were glad to become friends with each other and the institute’s staff.
Yunus Emre Institute is a Turkish cultural center located in Washington, D.C. and around the world. The institute hosts events and programs that educate the public about Turkey’s culture, history, and language. For more information about the institute’s mission or online programs, please email washingtondc@yee.org.tr or follow @yeewdc on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.