CCTV9英语新闻：'Attayah' a key part of everyday life

Chinese green tea has a special place in the lives of the Senegalese. Many have been drinking it daily for many years now, in the form of “Attayah.” In fact, an entire business chain has been centered around it.

 

Chinese green tea leaves, water, sugar and mint leaves. These ingredients, made through a very precise ritual, come together to make Senegal’s traditional Attayah tea. When one serves Attayah, typically, the first cup is bitter, the second strong, and the last, finally, sweet.

 

“It is impossible to begin to make Attayah without the smell drawing and without seeing a group of people around the teapot, it is like it has a power of attraction. It can allow to gather a group of people in a record time and plus while drinking it, it enables to pass the time,” said Attayah drinker Souleymane.

 

In different neighborhoods of Dakar, the Senegalese capital, there are many like Mohamed Siradji, who earn a living from the sale of Attayah.

 

“I started during this past month of Ramadan so it has barely been for one year, but it is with the money made that I take care of my family and actually with the money of this business I am able to handle my financial problems even if the amounts earned are not always huge,” said Attayah brewer Mohamed Siradji.

 

According to the statistics, every year, Senegal imports 4,600 tons of tea from China, valued at about U.S.$10 million.

 

“There is a great demand of green tea. There are different packages, different quantities. There are packs of 100 or 200 grams and very appreciated by customers. Tea is a product that we cannot afford to be out of stock in our shop. There are people that always come to ask for it,” said shopkeeper Demba Bousso.

 

Many in Senegal are calling on the government to encourage more local production of tea leaves to satisfy the existing market and also provide jobs for the youth.