East Frisian Tea Ceremony I UNESCO Cultural Heritage

Enjoy a traditional German Tea Ceremony. East Frisians drink 300 litres of tea per year, more than anyone else in the world. East Frisia is a part of Northern Germany, famous for its beautiful coast and rich tea culture. The UNESCO even included this ritual among Germany's intangible cultural heritage. In this video you will learn how to make East Frisian tea, learn the symbolism behind it and you can enjoy the calming sounds of tea brewing, with no talking. See the recipe below and some local variations I included:
Recipe
Boiling water
3 tsp loose assam tea (Frisian blend)
Rock sugar (optional: in rum)
cream
Add some hot water to the pot to warm it up.
Add tea leaves to the pot.
Fill pot halfway with boiling water.
Leave tea to brew for 3min over a candle.
Fill up the pot with boiling water.
Add a spoonful of rock sugar to the teacup.
Serve the oldest guest with tea. Listen to the sugar cracking.
Add a tablespoon of cream to the tea. Pour it counterclockwise on the side of the cup. This symbolically stops time, while enjoying the tea and company together.
Watch the clouds of cream (Wulkje) rise up.
Do not stir the tea. This way you can enjoy a creamy layer of cream, the bitter layer of tea, and the sweet sugar on the bottom.
As a matter of courtesy you should drink at least three cups of tea. Leave your spoon in the cup to signal, that you do not want more tea.
Variations:
Some families only have their tea in the afternoon with some biscuits or cake. Others drink it all day round and even serve it to their children (with lots of milk). Many people swear, that the tab water in East Frisia is essential to getting the taste right. When they go travelling they sometimes even bring their own tap water from home! There also seem to be variations in how the cream is poured in: Some pour it into the centre of the cup, to create a big cloud. Others pour it along the side of the cup, as shown in the video. But what matters most, is that you find they way, that you enjoy your tea most. After all, it is about having a cozy cup of tea and having a good time. peachycafecliff7

[@Empyronaut]

This is a nice video. I have to add a few points here tho. 1. It is absolutely not a usual or common thing to use rum soaked rock sugar, I grew up there and probably drank more tea in my life than anyone else in the audience. Trust me, this is not something you'll see at a normal tea table in east Frisia. 2. The first time you pour water over the leaves, you only add a small amount of water, not half of it. 3. You got the rules right in the end about not drinking less than 3 cups. Tea however gets served in East Frisia all day, not just at 3 o'clock. More facts you might didn't know: - How much tea per can? One teaspoon (Frisian ones are slightly bigger and really made to measure tea btw) per guest and one for the can. You have 3 guests? Then it's 4 spoons full. (3+1, easy, right?) - If you think you've had enough, put your spoon into your cup. You won't get a refill when you do that without any questions being asked. If you however do this before you got at least 3 cups, it is like you are spitting your host into their face. Remember: As long as thee is no spoon in your cup, you will get a new refill, if you want it or not. - You mentioned it, but not stirring the tea with the cream is essential to the experience - Use Frisian tea mixes or just let it be. Seriously. It is so strong that it will pull your socks off your feet but that's how it is. - Some dry cookies would be very appreciated to a cup of tea _ Normally, the cream is put into the tea with a bent spoon which is especially made for this. Like a miniature soup ladle.With it you can pour the cream slowly right into the middle of the cup gently and thereby create wonderfully looking cream flowers that suddenly appear on the surface. :3

[@peachycafe3265]

Thank you for your comment and the additional details! You can also find further facts in the description. In the video I wanted to focus on the process of making the tea.

[@Empyronaut]

@@peachycafe3265 I like your style. The silence has something meditational to me. You really hear what is going on. Very often, I think the generic music in other videos is too annoying to me. Keep on the good work. Bye! (+1 sub earned. :3)

[@peachycafe3265]

That's really encouraging, thank you : )

[@davidchad77]

Would it be a sin to use honey instead of rock sugar in East Frisia? Do any Frisians use honey in their tea instead of sugar?

[@Empyronaut]

@@davidchad77 I never heard of it or saw it myself. In the end, it is of course your choice what you put into your tea. But in that case it is not the traditional way anymore. It is however accepted if you put no sugar at all into your tea and some people don't like to put the cream in it too. This would be no problem, you just need to say it to your host. :3 I might ned to add that this whole thing is something that is slowly dying out. It will never be gone completely but you know how it is. Young people often find new ways to do things. I am not a guy who tells people how to do what and I love individualism. I just try to spread the original thing for generations to come before it will get diluted and watered down to something entirely different or before it even gets forgotten entirely. And maybe you will get the "real2 experience only in East Frisia too. You have to know that the water there which tomes out of your tap is very "soft". (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_water) This plays a role in the results too. And the brands in use are mixtures of different tea leafs that come ready to use in packs to buy. (not meaning to advertise here, but one of the most popular brand there is "Thiele Tee", the silver line) Damn, I should write a book about this stuff by now. :D

[@ainmiky4620]

This is the first time I've seen rock sugar in rum... very interesting

[@blackawana]

Thank you for this wonderful story! I love the tea, adn now I have even more to like about it. A new ritual for all the time I have, now.

[@peachycafe3265]

Thank you, I'm so happy to hear that! It is really a nice ritual to slow down and get cozy or to spend time with family.

[@helgaherbstreit5102]

simply beautiful

[@zachgaskins3731]

I came here because of Fields of Arle (the board game) which now has a Tea expansion. Tea lets you take extra actions or perform them more powerfully so I had to know why.

[@StaceyHSIeh]

Looks good! I will need to give it a try!

[@peachycafe3265]

Please do!

[@peachycafe3265]

How do you like to drink your tea? And what are some other specialities from the region you would like to see on my channel?

[@harms5846]

How many people does this recipe serve? Also, does anyone know if there are any variations in the tradition for Aurich? Thanks!

[@peachycafe3265]

I think it depends on how much everyone drinks, but I would definitely say it is fine for around 5 people? Maybe The Empyronaut or Doc Dewrill know something about Aurich traditions?

[@harms5846]

@@peachycafe3265 Thanks!

[@spunicunifait2697]

Wölckchentee! Lit. cloudy tea, zou got a license to kill anzone who trzs to stir zour tea