Starving and on the way to a Whole Foods this past Sunday for some ideas for dinner, I decided on a whim to stop in at a local Middle Eastern grocery store instead. I start chatting with the owner, after having tasted a batch of hummus she made by hand moments before I arrived. She brings me tea and urges me not to rush off until I finish it. While I’m hanging out and drinking my tea, with 3 bags of groceries on the counter, I make new friends and share some laughs.

In Turkey, I had a similar experience. You can’t go into a business without being approached with sweet tea and a friendly greeting. It immediately takes the “Business” out of business, and suddenly you’re dealing with people as well as their goods. I feel there’s a lesson here about service design - slow down, get personal, and don’t be afraid to give without getting back in return. The connection is worth the effort.

Above: a Turkish tea pot - water on the bottom, concentrated tea on the top slow-brewed, combine the two liquids to taste.

Small tea glasses (not venti) are found everywhere in Turkey and are the equivalent of a handshake in both small and large businesses.