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Jordan tea house importing blends from Japan to shut down amid COVID-19

The Turtle Green Tea Bar had its own tea blends to match the local tastes in Jordan. (Supplied)
The Turtle Green Tea Bar had its own tea blends to match the local tastes in Jordan. (Supplied)
The Turtle Green Tea Bar had its own tea blends to match the local tastes in Jordan. (Supplied)
The Turtle Green Tea Bar had its own tea blends to match the local tastes in Jordan. (Supplied)
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13 Dec 2020 04:12:30 GMT9
13 Dec 2020 04:12:30 GMT9

Diana Farah

The coronavirus pandemic has been negatively impacting various industries globally, with one of the most hard-hit being the food and beverage sector.

In Jordan, one of the first tea houses called Turtle Green Tea Bar is closing down on Dec. 24 after 11 years of business on the popular Rainbow St. in the country’s capital, Amman.

The tea bar’s owner Mohammed Badran told Arab News Japan that the Turtle Green Tea Bar had been struggling since March, when the coronavirus pandemic first hit countries around the world.

“If there is a one-day shutdown, it really affects the restaurant, so imagine a shutdown over a long period of time,” he explained.

Badran, however, said it was not the end of the tea house and brand Turtle Green Tea Bar as they plans to sell it.

“We found this as an opportunity, as Turtle Green Tea Bar has a high value since it was the first tea bar in Amman and Jordan,” he said. “We are going to start interviewing people to see if they have the right vision and passion for tea. We want the person to take the brand and expand it.”

The place imports teas from four countries, one of which is Japan. Badran explained that they had been importing matcha tea from the same agent in Japan for over nine years.

“We did not have too many sales of the matcha tea, however about three years back suddenly there was a buzz around matcha and its health benefits,” he said. “So many people were interested in trying it and suddenly, matcha tea sales were unbelievably higher.”

Badran said that they had tried to get creative with Japanese matcha rather than just keeping it traditional, with matcha shakes and lattes on their menu.

The Turtle Green Tea Bar also had its own tea blends to match the local tastes in Jordan. Badran explained that what made them unique was the tailored teas made specifically for the flavors of the region.

“We have a blend called ‘Bedouin,’ which is a mix of sage and cardamom. We also have a blend called ‘Arabic Breakfast,’ specifically for our Middle Eastern breakfasts to drink with bread and hummus,” the owner/partner said.

The tea house will certainly leave a mark in Jordan’s capital as it has a high emotional and social value, according to Badran.

“Not only is it a tea place, but it was also a cultural place for social gatherings. A lot of people have strong social and emotional ties to the bar. A lot of people met their other halves here, others were here everyday,” he added.

Jordan’s Queen Rania had also visited the Turtle Green Tea Bar in 2018.

Badran said they were counting down the 12 days of Christmas until the day the store closes, making sure to give people the chance to visit and say goodbye.

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