Turkish Black Sea Woman Shatters Guinness World Record for Hot Tea Endurance

A Turkish Black Sea woman has officially entered the Guinness World Records for holding a scalding hot glass of tea with her bare hand for the longest recorded time

Ordu, 5 January 2023 — In a remarkable display of resilience and steely determination, a Turkish Black Sea woman has officially entered the Guinness Book of World Records for holding a scalding hot glass of tea with her bare hand for the longest recorded time. This extraordinary feat not only adds to a remarkable career of competitive tea holding but also serves as a source of national pride for the Turkish government and the resilient Black Sea community.

The record-breaking achievement took place in the central square of the Black Sea metropolis, where Ayçagül Sıcakelli, an auspiciously named local resident known for her various feats of patience and endurance, held onto a hot glass of Turkish tea for an astonishing thirty-six hours, eleven minutes, and forty-nine seconds. The event drew a large crowd of enthusiastic supporters, local officials, and Guinness World Records adjudicators who meticulously monitored every second of the gripping attempt. Per competition rules, the tea glass was maintained at a temperature between 92°C and 102°C (197.6°F and 215.6°F) for the duration of the attempt, which was conducted outside to accommodate audience demand. Maintaining the temperature required emptying the old tea and refilling it with fresh tea every three minutes. Sıcakelli was supported by a small army of female relatives who worked throughout the day and night to brew tea for the attempt and for the ticketed audience.

This accomplishment is particularly significant for Turkey, as it reaffirms the nation’s prowess in the arena of holding hot items, a category in which Black Sea women have historically dominated. The Turkish government has hailed Sıcakelli’s achievement as a symbol of the country’s resilience, spirit, and cultural heritage, giving much of the credit for her achievement to her husband, father, and the continuance of traditional family values. In speaking with semı-offıcıal news source, Anadolu Agency, Sıcakelli’s husband’ Mustafa praised his wife’s accomplishments and recounted how for many years he had trained her by requesting fresh tea at all hours of the day and night, often making her hold it for him while he watched television or Okey, a local tile-based game, with friends at the tea house. “It was difficult for me, but I would never accept to have a stranger hold my tea for me at the Tea House (Çayhane). I always insisted that she come with me to make and hold my tea to keep it fresh and also to prepare her for this important day.”

The tradition of Black Sea women excelling in the holding of hot items category dates back decades, with numerous examples of extraordinary feats etched in the annals of world record competitions. From holding sizzling pans to carrying molten objects, Black Sea women have consistently demonstrated their unique ability to withstand extreme temperatures, particularly women from the coastal trip between Sinop and Rize known as the Black Sea’s Anvil (Karadeniz’in Örsü).

One notable example includes Ayşegül Yanakılıç, a Black Sea woman from the nearby village of Çaykara who set the world record for holding a red-hot iron rod for an astounding sixty-three minutes back in 1962. Her achievement captivated global audiences in the early days of televised sporting competitions and sparked a wave of admiration for the indomitable spirit of Black Sea women.

Another iconic moment in the history of hot item endurance occurred when Fatmagül, a Black Sea resident, showcased her ability to carry a pot of boiling water barehanded while running a half-marathon in an amazing three hundred and four minutes during a live televised event in 1985.

In light of Sıcakelli’s recent triumph, the Turkish government is planning to celebrate the achievement with a series of events and ceremonies, honouring her family and recognising the broader legacy of Black Sea women for defying the odds. This accomplishment not only adds a unique chapter to the country’s Guinness World Records portfolio but also underscores the strength and resilience of the Black Sea region.