East Frisian Tea and the Famous Ostfriesentee Ceremony

While my American friends grew up drinking Milk or Water with their dinner, we drank tea. Germans do drink a lot of tea, Black Tea, Hagebutte (Rose Hip), Chamomile, Fenchel (fennel)… But NO Germans drink as much tea as the Ostfriesen or East Frisians. If you can imagine, they consume an average of 300 liters of East Frisian Tea per year. PER PERSON! That’s a lot of tea. In fact, that’s more than any other culture on the planet. Even the Brits take a back seat to this statistic! It is such a central part of the culture that in 2016, the East Frisian Tea Ceremony was granted UNESCO Cultural Heritage status.

How did Osfriesentee, a drink that Frederich II, King of Prussia, labeled “Chinese Dragon Poison,” sail past beer to become such a massively important drink in this northern corner of Germany? It’s quite a story, including a war, smuggling, and rationing, and it even contributed to the development of the German Porcelain industry.

Ostfriesentee

Let’s orient those of you more familiar with the southern parts of Germany. Ostfriesland, or East Frisia, belongs to Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) and is tucked into a corner of Germany across the Ems from the Netherlands. Off the coast, you will find the Waddensee, border islands, and the North Sea.

Ostfriesland hervorgehoben
Onno, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In 1610, the Dutch East India Company (remember them from your history books?) introduced Tea that they brought from from the East to the Ostfriesen. At first, this strange and wonderful new drink was treated as medicine. By the 1700s, the locals developed a strong affinity for it. This wonderful hot beverage was a perfect foil for the cold and damp coming off of the sea. AND it was cheaper than beer!

Tea War!

Everything was fine until the late 1700s when Frederich II’s Royal Prussian Asian Trading Company foundered. This failure made him resent the Dutch East India Company’s success in the tea trade, mostly because he HATED that money was going out of the country (money he felt should stay in his pocket). Since he had so much earlier success promoting the Potato in Germany (another interesting story), he tried to repeat this trick with a new beverage made from Lemon Balm and another made from Parsley. It’s not a massive shock that these drinks failed to catch on (think of it as the 1700s version of New Coke). In 1778, he got so angry he even made a policy against TEA.

The Ostfriesen people rebelled and became Tea Smugglers.

They sent a letter to the Prussian King saying:

„Der Gebrauch des Thee und Caffe ist hierzulande so allgemein und so tief eingewurtzelt, dass die Natur des Menschen schon durch eine schöpferische Kraft müßte umgekehrt werden, wenn sie diesen Getränken auf einmal gute Nacht sagen sollte.“

“The use of tea and coffee is so general and so deeply rooted in Germany that the nature of man would have to be reversed by a creative force, if these Drinks should suddenly say Good Night. “

Still, Friedrich II held on for two more years until he finally gave in.  Then Napoleon tried again to block the Ostfriesen from their tea from 1806-1814, but he also failed.

Flash forward to the 20th century. The need for Tea in Ostfriesland was so well established that during World War II, they were the only people in Germany given a tea ration. Initially, 20 grams monthly, and later 35 grams, but that paled in comparison to the 300 grams they were used to. After the War, tea was still in short supply, so the people went down to the Ruhr to trade their butter, eggs, and ham for extra Tea.

The moral seems to be, the  Ostfriesen people LOVE their tea, and NOTHING will stop them from drinking it.

Teelke Leer

There’s even a Teemuseum in the North with lots of hands-on exhibits, tastings, and a children’s area. 

Ostfriesisches Teemuseum Norden

What IS Ostfriesen Tee

You are most likely wondering what makes East Frisian Tea so special. If you’ve been drinking cheap grocery store tea that comes in bags with a paper tag, you are in for a shock (especially if you have committed the grievous sin of cooking it in the microwave) (sigh).

East Frisian Tee is strong. (As in, ‘when it cools, you can use it to stain a bookcase strong‘). There are a number of different blends, but the base tea is usually Assam Tea. Assam Tea is grown (big shocker) in the Assam region of India, near sea level. This is a STRONG tea, known for its “bright flavor,” “deep color,” and “briskness.” This one will pop your eyes open in the morning in a way that your latte can’t even begin to imagine. (Did I mention it was strong?)

east frisian tea

 

Most commonly, you will see the tea sold as “Ostfriesen Tee,” but specialty mixes are available as well. Spending an afternoon with Oma? Drink Oma’s Sonntags Tee i,t’s milder. Fishing with Opa in the Rain? Pour a cup of Opa’s Schietwettertee, with orange peel, cinnamon, and a hint of rum.

east frisian tea

 

Quick Note about Kluntjes

Kluntjes are not simple sugar cubes like the ones California kids used to build Missions. ( I argue that if we used Kluntjes to build the Missions, they would still be standing). They are bigger than the standard American Sugar cube, and they look like a giant hunk of rock candy. When I was a child, I could suck on one of these for most of the afternoon. Order them here-> Kluntjes

kluntjes

East Frisian Tea Ceremony or Teetied

But Ostfriesentee is not just a beverage to pour into a mug and slurp. When you arrive at someone’s home, don’t be surprised if they offer you Tea. (And fair warning, the expectation is that you will drink at least 3 cups full).  Tea in Ostfriesen comes with a list of cultural expectations and a tea ceremony almost as elaborate as the one in Japan. Teetied, Ostfriesen Platt for Tea Time usually takes place between 11 am and 3 pm. But they aren’t bound to that and have been known to drink tea at 11 pm.

The Ceremony goes like this-

First… Make sure you have all your Supplies:
Ostfriesen Tea -a loose Assam blend
Boiling Water- preferably soft water
Pot for brewing Tea (this is for the full elaborate ceremony)
Teapot and Warmer
Kluntje– special Sugar Lumps that look like Rock Candy
Cream and a spoon
Porcelain Tea Cups- no mugs or worse, paper cups with a sippy hole.
Strainer

Optional- something sweet to enjoy with the tea (Pastry is nice, but a cookie will do)

east frisian teas

 

For the full ceremony, spoon loose Tea Leaves into a pot.
One spoonful for each cup you intend to make, plus one extra for the pot.
Bring water to a FULL BOIL, and pour half of it over the tea leaves.
Let steep 3 minutes
Now, pour in the rest of the water
Pour the tea through a strainer into the serving Tea Pot.
Set it on a Tea Warmer.

At the Table
Put a Kluntje in the bottom of the cup
Pour tea from the teapot
Add cream by pouring it over a spoon. (This creates a cool effect!)
DO NOT STIR THE TEA

east frisian tea

Ostfriesen Tea is not stirred.
The idea is that you get 3 distinct sensations from the tea.
First you get the creamy top.
Then the more bitter tea in the middle.
And the last sips will be sweet.

ostfriesentee

 

Also, by not stirring, you can stretch that Kluntje to last for a few cups of tea (Ostfriesen people can be rather thrifty).

Tee Requires Teacups

As I mentioned, this tea is not drunk from a mug or paper cup. To fully appreciate the flavor, you must drink it from a teacup, preferably a porcelain one. Fortunately, the Dutch East India Company also imported the proper drinking vessels. Still, by the early 1700s,  Johann Friedrich Böttger figured out how to make porcelain in Germany, and before long, teapots were being manufactured in Dresden, Germany. The Ostfriesen were particularly fond of the Blau Dresmer that we see everywhere now.

The tea scoops and tongs for Kluntje were also important. Tea eggs and sieves came along later. (At home, I use a tea egg for my loose tea—mostly because my mother always did.) You can even get a special sponge to hang around the teapot spout to catch the drips.

ostfriesentee

 

Ready to Make East Frisian Tea at home?

Here’s everything you need….

Tee Kanne Friesian Gold FBOPTee Kanne Friesian Gold FBOPGermanShop24Teekanne Friesian GoldTeekanne Friesian GoldGermanShop24

Harney & Sons East Frisian | 16oz Bag of Loose Leaf TeaHarney & Sons East Frisian | 16oz Bag of Loose Leaf TeaHarney & Sons East Frisian | 16oz Bag of Loose Leaf TeaEast Frisian, Loose tea in 4 Ounce tinEast Frisian, Loose tea in 4 Ounce tinEast Frisian, Loose tea in 4 Ounce tin

Traditional East Frisian Tea Organic Black Tea HistoricalTraditional East Frisian Tea Organic Black Tea HistoricalTraditional East Frisian Tea Organic Black Tea Historical

Order Ostfriesentee from Germany

Lebensbaum Ostfriesen Tea Broken, East Frisian Black Tea Blend, Organic Tea, Black Tea with Strong Malty Flavour, Loose TeaLebensbaum Ostfriesen Tea Broken, East Frisian Black Tea Blend, Organic Tea, Black Tea with Strong Malty Flavour, Loose TeaAMAZON.DELebensbaum Ostfriesen Mixture, 20 Bags x 1.75 g Black Tea with Strong Spicy Flavour, Malty, Ideal for Clinging, 100% OrganicLebensbaum Ostfriesen Mixture, 20 Bags x 1.75 g Black Tea with Strong Spicy Flavour, Malty, Ideal for Clinging, 100% OrganicAMAZON.DEFumaga Tea Selection - Fumaga Tea Selection – “East Frisian Tea” Leaf Mix – 30 g/90 g/ 200 gAMAZON.DEAURESA Schwarztee Ostfriesen Mischung im Glas | Loser Tee - 100g | Wiederverwendbare Glasflasche mit KorkverschlussAURESA Schwarztee Ostfriesen Mischung im Glas | Loser Tee – 100g | Wiederverwendbare Glasflasche mit KorkverschlussAMAZON.DE

 

Kluntje/ Kandis

Rock sugar for your Tee

Kluntje KandisKluntje KandisGerman Shop 24

Teapots and Teacups
For that authentic experience

Antique 14 pc German Onion Pattern Tee SetAntique 14 pc German Onion Pattern Tee SetAntique 14 pc German Onion Pattern Tee Set

 

Blue Onion Coffee Set | Coffee Pot, Creamer & Milk Set and Cake Plate | 5Pcs | Hutschenreuther (Rosenthal)Blue Onion Coffee Set | Coffee Pot, Creamer & Milk Set and Cake Plate | 5Pcs | Hutschenreuther (Rosenthal)Blue Onion Coffee Set | Coffee Pot, Creamer & Milk Set and Cake Plate | 5Pcs | Hutschenreuther (Rosenthal)Schlaggenwald 19th Century hand painted antique coffee/tea service Zwiebelmuster/Onion PatternSchlaggenwald 19th Century hand painted antique coffee/tea service Zwiebelmuster/Onion PatternSchlaggenwald 19th Century hand painted antique coffee/tea service Zwiebelmuster/Onion Pattern

 

Just WOW!

Blue Danube breakfast and tea service for 8 place settings, wedding gift, gift for herBlue Danube breakfast and tea service for 8 place settings, wedding gift, gift for herBlue Danube breakfast and tea service for 8 place settings, wedding gift, gift for her

Tools for Tea

Elegance Silver 86241 Silver Plated Sugar Tongs, 4-1/2Elegance Silver 86241 Silver Plated Sugar Tongs, 4-1/2Elegance Silver 86241 Silver Plated Sugar Tongs, 4-1/2Fu Store 2pcs Stainless Steel Mesh Tea Ball 2.1 Inch Tea Infuser Strainers Tea Strainer Filters Tea Interval Diffuser for TeaFu Store 2pcs Stainless Steel Mesh Tea Ball 2.1 Inch Tea Infuser Strainers Tea Strainer Filters Tea Interval Diffuser for TeaFu Store 2pcs Stainless Steel Mesh Tea Ball 2.1 Inch Tea Infuser Strainers Tea Strainer Filters Tea Interval Diffuser for TeaTea Infuser Set by Chefast (2+1 Pack) - Combo Kit of 1 Large and 2 Single Cup Infusers, Plus Metal Scoop with Clip - Reusable Stainless Steel Strainers and Steepers for Loose Leaf TeasTea Infuser Set by Chefast (2+1 Pack) – Combo Kit of 1 Large and 2 Single Cup Infusers, Plus Metal Scoop with Clip – Reusable Stainless Steel Strainers and Steepers for Loose Leaf TeasTea Infuser Set by Chefast (2+1 Pack) - Combo Kit of 1 Large and 2 Single Cup Infusers, Plus Metal Scoop with Clip - Reusable Stainless Steel Strainers and Steepers for Loose Leaf TeasTeabloom Perfect Measure Loose Leaf Tea Spoon - Premium Quality Stainless Steel Tea ScoopTeabloom Perfect Measure Loose Leaf Tea Spoon – Premium Quality Stainless Steel Tea ScoopTeabloom Perfect Measure Loose Leaf Tea Spoon - Premium Quality Stainless Steel Tea Scoop

Tea Warmers

 

 

Sun's Tea Solid Crystal Glass Teapot WarmerSun’s Tea Solid Crystal Glass Teapot WarmerSun's Tea Solid Crystal Glass Teapot WarmerGROSCHE Cairo Premium Teapot Warmer with tea lite candle. For glass teapot and other heatproof dish warming use.GROSCHE Cairo Premium Teapot Warmer with tea lite candle. For glass teapot and other heatproof dish warming use.GROSCHE Cairo Premium Teapot Warmer with tea lite candle. For glass teapot and other heatproof dish warming use.

East Friesian tea

16 thoughts on “East Frisian Tea and the Famous Ostfriesentee Ceremony

  1. Nice article. Would be nice to see the proper tea cups etc to give a more authentic feel to the visuals

  2. There is an Ostfriesen tea shop in Madison, Wisconsin. I have ordered from them several times.

  3. That’s a wonderful article! Thank you for educating us on Ostfriesen tea.

  4. Thanks for enlightening me about the Ostfriesen tea. I was born near Aurich, in Ostfriesland, when my parents were Instructors at the Technical College. I always had heard from my mother about the “cultural” adjustments she had to make when she moved there from southern Germany(Bavaria) – one of them being the tea drinking, ceremony, special cream swirls, and very strong tea. That was post WWII, they moved to USA in 1954 — so, I am a “German Girl” in America! And, by the way – I am a heavy tea drinker! I think I need to get some Ostfriesen tea.

  5. You didn’t mention the special ‘cream ladles’ they use in Ostfriesland. I know they’re not essential, but they do add to the effect!
    We just spend a week cycling and camping in Ostfriesland and we were both immediately in love with how they drink their tea. We both live in Germany – in the middle, in Weimar in Thuringia – but neither of us had been to this part of the country. Even my wife, who is German, had never been there. And they’re so friendly! We loved it.
    We are now trying to create the whole ‘Ostrfriesentee effect’, including the rich pattern of cream ‘circles’ that slowly rises to the top after you pour the cream in using the ‘mini ladle’. Up to now we have failed miserably and think that is due to a couple of things: our water is very hard here and the cream you can normally buy here is rather watery.
    But, we shall see! we are determined to receate the magic!!!

    1. Honestly, no matter how hard we try, it’s impossible to exactly re-create a German experience in the US

  6. I lived as an exchange student in Niedersachsen and Bremen with a family from Ostfriesland. I later lived there as an adult and spent many years and holidays with them. You have really described the process perfectly! I always default to coffee these days, but damn this has convinced me to get more Ostfriesischetee! Lass es Euch schmecken!

  7. I was inspired by this article to order Ostfriesen Gold and Kluntje Kandis through GermanShop24, and have tried the tea ceremony several times now – I have a delightful little round yellow teapot from England, and some nice vintage Marshall Field/Limoges teacups from probably the 1920’s. I even watched a few videos online to supplement your instructions (though I forgot the part about put in half the water and steep the tea and then add the rest of the water). I pour the tea from the pot through a sieve to corrall the leaves.

    The tea is enjoyable (though, as you mentioned, strong, especially the second cup and the one time I tried the third cup – oh, my!). However, I’m having problems getting the three layers of flavor – I’m getting just a creamy top and a sugary bottom layer, and there’s no real non-creamy part in the middle.

    The only heavy cream I’ve been able to get my hands on is whipping cream, with the added carrageenan and other things, which may help explain it. And maybe it explains something else – does anybody else see little sort of starry shapes on the top of the cup? There’s a slight “skin” at the top of the cream, and I see sort of a crinkly effect in it. Interesting, but perhaps not authentic!

    Thank you for telling us about this. : )

  8. My Oma was from Jever in OST Friesland. A Favorite memory was having tee at the family windmill in the garden with her & kin. They made some beautiful pastries to accompany the tee.

  9. Ostfriesen tea drinking includes Kreis Friesland and Wilhelmshaven, the area part of the Ostfriesische Halbinsel. To make Ostfriesen tee outside this area is rather difficult because of the water, which is extremely soft. Because of this water, even cheap green tea served in restaurants tastes pretty good.

    1. My Oma’s water (in the Münsterland) was very soft. I know it messed up the coffee too

  10. In the Emden area, the pink Ostfriesen Rose pattern is popular on the porcelain cups and teapots. My great-grandmother had a china shop near the harbor in Emden. The cloud formed by ladelng cream into the edge of the cup is called the blühen or bloom.

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