Rositsa Dorovska
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture named 2022 as the Year of Saudi Coffee. What is this liquid considered as the most popular drink in the Kingdom? Discover the Saudi coffee, a vital element in Saudi’s rich culture; it’s not only delicious, it’s also very symbolic.
If you have been around the Middle East for some time, you must already know that there is no such thing as too much gahwa (Arabic word for coffee). Being a staple of the bedouin culture for ages, the arabic coffee was recently rebranded across the Kingdom as “Saudi coffee”, in the framework of the “Saudi Coffee Initiative”, under the Ministry of Culture’s flagship.
The whole year is designated to be The Year of Saudi Coffee, with a long lineup of events, scheduled throughout all regions. The government aims to promote the signature local brew and to distinguish the endemic sorts in active partnership with farmers, producers, business entities, coffee shops, hoteliers and the wider community. Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al-Saud, Minister of Culture and Governor of the Royal Commission for Al Ula, even encouraged his followers on Twitter to participate with their creative ideas in order to support the initiative. He mentioned that the Saudi coffee accompanies all moments in life and it conveys deep meanings of generosity, hospitality, cultural diversity, and specificity of the unique Saudi culture.
While foreigners usually have a love and hate relationship with gahwa due to its strong, specific taste, for the people with long term Gulf background – natives and expatriates alike – sipping Saudi coffee has always been a natural habit and a ritual with or without occasion. Offering it to guests is a requisite for hospitality.
There is no Saudi home without a decent set of finjals, the tiny handless cups, and dallah, the coffee pot itself. The way of pouring the drink is also sort of an art, a small celebration for the guests, therefore it could be assigned to skillful waiters with the appropriate local attire. The finjal is refilled endless times, unless you shake the cup with your hand energetically to express you have had enough.
Unlike in other cultures, Saudis like to have their gahwa in the afternoon, around sunset, until dark. Known for its revitalizing and stimulative effect, the drink has been initially disapproved by the religious scholars of the past. Depending on the region, it could be infused with zaffran, cardamom, cinnamon or cloves. To balance the bitterness, it is usually accompanied with sweet dates, tahini, dry fruits, and nuts. Gahwa is a very important part of the holy month of Ramadan, when people would often break their fast with a couple of dates and a cup of coffee.
Found in Yemen, the arabica beans were spread around the peninsula more than 1000 years ago. The Khawlani Saudi beans are typical for the regions bordering Yemen. The Southern mountainous part of the Kingdom has the perfect conditions for growing the fruit, known as’ ‘Kharazah” and this is one of the main profits for the local farmers. It takes approximately two to three years, until the tree is grown and able to produce the fruit, of which the gahwa would be made. Statistical data estimates 2,535 farms and 398,000 trees. Those small farmers are hailing the Ministry of Culture’s initiative to bolster the national economy with a boost of production and export for the coffee. This is in line with the Vision 2030 objectives.
A special Arabian coffee institute, in partnership with the University of Copenhagen, was established at the beginning of the year to fulfill the goals of the initiative to promote the Saudi coffee worldwide – from its harvesting, through supporting local baristas and other gahwa specialists and cultivating a professional network across the Kingdom. The Institute is offering courses to educate the community and to enable homegrown talents in the field. The institute is based in Saudi Arabia with prospective expansion to Egypt, UAE, Qatar, and Jordan followed with plans to launch the first Arabic Coffee magazine.
Meanwhile, the Public Investment Fund recently launched the Saudi Coffee Company and announced the intention to invest SAR 1.2 billion over 10 years to develop the industry and support the entire chain – from beans to cup.
The Saudi coffee is finally earning its spot locally and globally as a symbol of Saudi culture and authentic legacy.
For more information on the Year of Saudi Coffee 2022, you may visit https://engage.moc.gov.sa/year-of-saudi-coffee
