The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

Turkish Coffee

To drink Turkish Coffee it must be poured into a little
specially made cup and saucer usually decorated with
nice art work. After drinking the coffee flip the saucer
over. Turkish Coffee has a heavy sediment build-up on the
bottom of the saucer. The coffee sediment will then dry and
take shape. The end result is your fortune which could be
good or bad. This fortune is depicted through the sediment
formations. After everybody has drunk their coffee the little
cups are brought over to the eldest people in the group and
those are the people who will tell the coffee drinkers their
good or bad fortunes.

Submitter comment: My grandmother is the woman who described this good or bad
fortune tale to me. I have never tried Turkish Coffee
before because it is to thick and strong. The only good
thing that I like about this coffee is the rich smelling
aroma which it possesses.

Where learned: BAGHDAD ; IRAQ

Date learned: 00-00-1935