A Briq, Ibrik or Brik ( ar, برق) is an

ancient Ancient history is a time period from the beginning of writing and recorded human history to as far as late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the Sumerian cuneiform script. Ancient history cov ...

teapot and pitcher traditionally used by the inhabitants of

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus lie ...

and

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

to prepare and drink tea or water. It is a pot and handle with an unconventional spout that allows liquid to be consumed easily with no receptacle and tea to be mixed effectively and conveniently. It is traditionally

earthenware Earthenware is glazed or unglazed nonvitreous pottery that has normally been fired below . Basic earthenware, often called terracotta, absorbs liquids such as water. However, earthenware can be made impervious to liquids by coating it with a c ...

, however glass briqs are also commo

Use

The briq was historically carried around by people to quench thirst as its design is efficient and easy to use. Sharing and drinking tea with acquaintances and guests is common practice within Lebanese and Syrian culture and it would not be uncommon to share a tea in a briq with potential business customers as a gesture of good will. The lips do not touch the spout whilst drinking and this is especially important and hygienic as it is usually shared between several people.

History

As there is recordings of briqs being used in Lebanon between 1050 and 850 BC, we know briqs were around at the time of the

Phoenicia Phoenicia () was an ancient thalassocratic civilization originating in the Levant region of the eastern Mediterranean, primarily located in modern Lebanon. The territory of the Phoenician city-states extended and shrank throughout their his ...

n civilization. Some briqs (albeit without the handle) have been found dating from the

Early Bronze Age The Bronze Age is a historic period, lasting approximately from 3300 BC to 1200 BC, characterized by the use of bronze, the presence of writing in some areas, and other early features of urban civilization. The Bronze Age is the second prin ...

(3500-2200 BC). It is not well known whether these briqs were used for drinking water as they are used today. Drinking from the briq continues to be practised in many of the rural villages in Lebanon, such as in the druze village of Sawfar, and many

Lebanese people The Lebanese people ( ar, الشعب اللبناني / ALA-LC: ', ) are the people inhabiting or originating from Lebanon. The term may also include those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains prior to the creatio ...

today keep a briq as a cultural artifact, displaying it on a shelf or using it as a flower vase. Their overall use has declined over time into the modern day, however recent efforts have been made to revitalize this ancient cultural heritage in Lebanon.

References

Teapots Lebanese culture Syrian culture Lebanese cuisine Syrian cuisine National symbols of Lebanon Arab culture Phoenician culture {{drinkware-stub