Break culture · worldwide
How the World Takes a Break
Every culture has its own three-minute ritual — the damta, the Raucherpause, the chai tapri, the perekur. These are their stories, and a way to take the break anywhere.
Take your break →담타 · damta
South Korea
In Seoul, the smoking room was always the most honest room in the building.
Raucherpause
Germany
In Germany, the Raucherpause is where the meeting actually happens.
pausa do cigarro · fumódromo
Brazil
In a Brazilian office, the smoking corner is the boardroom that doesn't exist.
चाय की टपरी · chai tapri
India
Every Indian office runs on chai, and every chai runs through the tapri.
перекур · perekur
Russia
In Russia, "перекурим" is a promise: we will sort this out over a smoke.
the fag break · the cuppa
United Kingdom
In Britain, you don't go outside for a cigarette. You go out for a "fag".
çay molası · çay bahçesi
Turkey
In Turkey, the first question is not "how are you?" — it is "çay içer misin?" (will you have a tea?).
la pause clope · le tabac
France
The French do not just take a smoke break. They stage it.
気分転換 · kibun tenkan
Japan
In Japan, the smoking room was never really about smoking. It was about 気分転換 — changing your mood.
warung kopi · ngeroko
Indonesia
In Indonesia, the warung kopi is where the day is decided — one sachet coffee at a time.