The southeastern region of Lankaran is home to natural hot springs and Azerbaijan's national drink. Come with us as we relax in a luxury resort, test treatments, and discover the process of tea making.
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00:00 (upbeat music)
00:02 Good morning, I'm starting my day in a luxury resort
00:08 in Southeast Azerbaijan, not far from the Caspian Sea.
00:12 The protagonist here is only you.
00:14 If you want to be taken care of all the time,
00:17 this is the perfect place to go.
00:19 (upbeat music)
00:22 Lankaran region, nestled between the sea and the mountains
00:27 is home to many hot springs or Istisu.
00:31 The Lankaran Springs Wellness Resort
00:33 has taken things to a whole new level
00:35 while still keeping a natural approach.
00:38 I recommend to all our customers,
00:42 test it for first and our Istisu, thermal water.
00:46 Water comes from underground
00:48 and always in 45 and 46 degree.
00:52 Just 100% comes natural and we go natural.
00:57 (upbeat music)
00:58 This mineral rich hot water emerging from the ground
01:01 has been used by locals for centuries to treat themselves.
01:05 Taking this kind of hot bath has several benefits
01:10 from skin conditions to vascular health.
01:13 Natural mineral water can actually improve physical issues.
01:17 Besides the Istisu, you can always rejuvenate your body
01:23 here with a Finnish sauna or a Turkish bath
01:26 as I did.
01:27 Or opt for more specific medical procedures.
01:32 (speaking in foreign language)
01:37 I couldn't miss the chance to test some of these treatments,
01:56 starting from the ozone sauna
01:58 to improve my body metabolism.
02:00 It's really hot.
02:02 And to improve detoxification as you can see.
02:06 Then my hands were covered with paraffin wax
02:10 derived from petroleum,
02:12 Azerbaijan's most precious resource.
02:15 (speaking in foreign language)
02:20 (speaking in foreign language)
02:24 My body and soul have been revitalized.
02:34 I'm feeling very relaxed right now
02:42 and I feel like I'm a new person.
02:44 There's a drink which goes perfectly
02:46 with this state of mind.
02:48 But first, I have to do something.
02:50 The subtropical climate, humidity and fertile soil
02:57 of this area makes it the best place in Azerbaijan
03:00 to grow one of the symbols of this country, chai or tea.
03:04 Tea growing started to be developed here in the 1930s
03:08 and the region now produces 99% of the national tea crop.
03:15 (speaking in foreign language)
03:19 Tea picking begins at the end of April
03:37 and takes place roughly five times per year until autumn.
03:41 And it's a women's affair.
03:45 (speaking in foreign language)
03:49 Once the leaves are collected,
04:07 they are put in the drying room for 18 hours.
04:10 Then the leaves are twisted in the rolling machine
04:13 for 45 minutes.
04:15 The leaf cell walls are ruptured to bring the juices
04:18 to the surface of the leaf.
04:20 The fermentation, which takes about two to four hours,
04:23 is the penultimate step before the steaming.
04:26 The whole process takes about 24 hours.
04:29 Tea drinking is a very important part of Azeri's life.
04:37 It's mandatory around here to have a chai
04:40 in the classical pear-shaped glass cups.
04:44 This perfect day is unfortunately over.
04:47 I loved to be cuddled in the resort
04:49 and discovering how one of my favorite drinks is made
04:53 and of course, tasting it.
04:55 [MUSIC PLAYING]
04:58 you