Glassy red-brew and tea biscuits, there’s nothing quite like an Egyptian cup of shai. Ever since its introduction by the British in the 16th century, tea has become a staple of the Egyptian household; kitchens are lined with loose-leaf variants, Shai El Aroosa tea-bags, and traditional crystal glasses made just for its enjoyment. A classless drink, one found across the country. While some enjoy it with a side of mastic shisha, others will dip butter biscuits into their brew and dine away. Unlike Chinese and British customs, that dedicate particular periods of the day to tea, Egyptians are likely to enjoy shai at any given moment – be that in the early morning, or well past a household’s bedtime. Perhaps due to affordability, though mostly due to variety, Egypt has developed a local culture around drinking tea. After its transition from socialism to republicanism, the age of consumerism has only encouraged import trade in Egypt. According to Hackberry Tea, locals consume “65,000 to 75,000” tonnes of tea annually, despite importing the vast majority from other countries such as Kenya and Sri Lanka. The act of drinking tea, however, has graduated…
