VI
EN
Half a cup of tea in Dubai and Kazakhstan
In Dubai and Kazakhstan, tea is only poured halfway or less into the cup so that guests don't feel the host is waiting for them to leave. Half a cup of tea in these two countries is a sign that the host wants to continue the conversation. If you receive a full cup, it means it's time to leave.
The "clean" teapot of the Chinese
In China, people don't wash teapots with dish soap, but only with water or a special kind of sand. The residue remaining in the teapot is considered the "soul of the tea" and shouldn't be "killed" by the chemicals in detergents.
Don't ask for extra cheese in Italy.
Pizza and pasta are dishes that are incomplete without cheese. However, in Italy, asking for extra cheese on your pizza or pasta is discouraged, as chefs may assume you don't like the dish they prepared and want to change it.
Also, don't ask for salt or pepper in Portugal and Egypt.
Similarly to Italy, asking for salt or pepper in Egypt or Portugal can offend the chef, as it's interpreted as a sign that the dish isn't good enough and you need to add more seasoning.
No forks are used in Thailand.
Many countries around the world use forks during meals. However, in Thailand, using a fork is considered bad manners. Instead, you can use a fork to place food on a spoon and eat it with the spoon.
Don't eat everything on your plate in China.
If we like a dish, we often eat everything on the plate to show how delicious it is. However, the Chinese consider this impolite because empty plates mean the host has offered too little food and the guest is still hungry. So, if you want to compliment the chef or host, leave a little food on your plate, no matter how delicious it is.
The way tea is drunk in England
Many people know that the British have a habit of drinking tea at 5 pm. But not many people know how the British drink tea. When drinking tea, they often add milk. Also, the British prefer their tea cold rather than hot. Furthermore, they always make sure to stir their tea gently and quietly.
Be careful when using chopsticks in Japan.
In Japan, you shouldn't stick chopsticks upright. Traditionally, chopsticks are only allowed to be stuck upright in a bowl of rice during funerals. Furthermore, you shouldn't pass food to others with chopsticks because during funerals, chopsticks are used to pick up the bones of the deceased after cremation.
