The remains of a mastic-laced Turkish coffee – any bets on what my fortune was? (Image by Liz Cameron)

Nothing is more evocative of Turkey for me than the sound of tiny spoons clinking into glasses at a Çay bahçesi (i.e. tea garden or cafe).

The puppets sigh with hiraeth at this thought.  They do pine for home now that they are home from their sabbatical!

Nothing feels more like coming home then finding a spot under the Çinar ağaç (chinar tree) in the central square of the village on Bozcaada.

Actually, it is more like a trapezoid, but whatever.  This is my favorite café in the world, there is no doubt in my mind about this.

While most people sip their tulip shaped glasses full of Çaykur brand tea, I favor two of the other drinks on the menu.

Island tea a.k.a. Ada çayı on Bozcaada (Image by Liz Cameron)

First, there is island tea – Ada çayı – which is an herbal tea that tastes somewhat like sage but has a lemony flowery essence.

I drink it with two sugars and a squeeze of lemon in a large glass fındık.

Second, there is mastic-laced Turkish coffee, served with a tiny mastic almond cookie.

Late at night, the café’s proprietor serves this with a cigarette and a shot of alcohol.

A bride chills out before (or after?) her nuptuals at the Çınaraltı cafe on Bozcaada (Image by Liz Cameron)

Open year-round, this café serves up locally – baked goods such as eggplant börek – my favorite.

Mastic-flavored Turkish coffee at the Çınaraltı cafe on Bozcaada/Tenedos (Image by Liz Cameron)

Enjoy a cuppa with the folks at Çınaraltı cafe any time of year!