Çaykur Altınbaş Turkish Black Tea — Premium Loose Leaf 200g / 500g

Çaykur makes more than a dozen black teas, and Altınbaş sits at the top of the loose-leaf range. The name means "golden head," and it refers to what goes into the box: only the bud and the two youngest leaves beneath it, the part of the tea shoot Çaykur itself calls the secret of this blend. That picking standard gives Altınbaş the highest share of golden-tipped, curled leaves of any Çaykur tea — and it is why the pack carries the line about a goldsmith's craftsmanship. If you already drink Rize Turist or another everyday Çaykur tea, here is the practical difference: Altınbaş brews darker and stronger from less tea, with a brisk, slightly sharp edge that Çaykur describes as its trademark — assertive on the first sip, clean rather than heavy after. It is the grade Turkish households keep for guests and the one tea gourmets are said to recognize on the spot. Pure Rize black tea, no additives, no flavorings. Çaykur is Turkey's state tea enterprise, founded in 1971 and headquartered in Rize on the eastern Black Sea coast, where nearly all Turkish tea is grown. The footer on every box — Çay İşletmeleri Genel Müdürlüğü, Rize — is the official mark of that institution, not a private label. Brew it the Turkish way in a two-tier çaydanlık: rinse the leaves, steep over the simmering lower kettle for 10–15 minutes, then pour a finger or two of the dark concentrate into a tulip glass and top with hot water to taste. Because Altınbaş yields a strong dem, you will use noticeably less per pot than with standard grades. A single teapot or French press works too — just shorten the steep. Available in 200 g and 500 g boxes. A 500 g box of loose-leaf brews roughly 200 Turkish-size glasses, so it lasts a daily drinker several weeks. Store airtight, away from light and spices.