Harvesting Tea

Tea is the most popular drink, by far, throughout Iran. Nothing of consequence is ever done without small glasses of tea being passed around. But no one really knows how it managed to replace coffee as the stimulant drink of choice in Iran. Iranians prefer black tea, which is oxidized and fermented before it is dried, and becomes reddish once brewed, as opposed to the non-fermented green teas. They like their tea hot and sweet. The color should be red, like that of the eye of a cock/cheshm khorusi, and the aroma has to be just right (like orange blossom or rose water).