BAKU, July 25, 2025 — As extreme heat continues to grip Azerbaijan’s capital, with daily temperatures hovering between 38–40°C for more than ten consecutive days, Baku’s residents are turning to air conditioners and, unexpectedly, hot tea to find relief.
The city’s urban landscape — dominated by heat-absorbing marble and concrete — has intensified the heatwave, creating a “stone oven” effect in many neighborhoods.
With limited green space to provide shade or cool the air, residents find themselves battling oppressive heat, particularly in public transport.
Many buses in Baku continue to operate without functioning air conditioning, turning commutes into endurance tests for passengers.
In a street survey conducted by Oxu.az, most respondents named air conditioning as their primary means of coping with the heat.
Surprisingly, a significant number also cited drinking hot tea as an effective method to regulate body temperature in the sweltering weather — a tradition rooted in regional customs.
As the heatwave persists, calls are growing for city authorities to improve public transport comfort and invest in more sustainable urban cooling solutions.
