Tea takes a special place in the food culture of the Kazakhs. Until the mid-19th century, tea was consumed mainly by wealthy Kazakhs. In the second half of the 19th century, tea was consumed by the entire Kazakh society. Tea came to the Kazakhs through Russia and its use by nomads was associated with a change in their lifestyle. The widespread spread of tea and the tea ceremony in Kazakhstan occurred in the second half of the 19th century. Its main distributor was the Russian administration. Tea was first distributed among the aristocracy of Kazakh society – khans and sultans, then a decrease in prices for goods and changes in the lifestyle of nomads led to its spread among the common people.
Over time, Kazakh tea drinking turned into a ritual. Respect for the guest depended on who poured the tea and how much. If tea is poured into a cup, you will be treated as an uninvited guest. Kazakhstan is a large country, and the tea ceremony is different in different regions. In the south of the republic – in the South Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda regions, as well as in inner Kazakhstan, the tea ceremony is different in each region. In Atyrau, Mangystau regions and the south-eastern parts of Aktobe, West Kazakhstan regions, decent people pour tea into small cups, and in other regions - into medium or large cups. This feature is directly related to the natural and climatic conditions of these regions.
