A new historical discovery shows that, in the 15th century, coffee in the Ottoman Empire was not just a social ritual, but also a legal condition for marriage. According to the family code of the period, any woman could seek divorce if her husband did not provide her with the right amount of coffee.
This unusual law reflects the essential importance that coffee had in Ottoman life, symbolizing hospitality, warmth, and harmony within the family. Historians say that the purpose of this legal regulation was to protect women's rights and maintain family balance.
Today, this fact reminds us that coffee culture is deep and rooted in Turkish traditions, and that a daily beverage can be transformed into a social and legal instrument to protect women's rights.
