The Middle East is a region popular among tourists, especially places like Abu Dhabi. Tourists are often attracted by some of the luxuries such as the dedicated island with free roaming wildlife and the Sir Bani Yas Island hotels. Most places in the region are guaranteed to serve a great Arabic coffee but hotels such as Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Resorts dedicated restaurants and coffee shops serving them.
Being a part of the deeply rooted culture the Arabic coffee is often consumed in all households and served at weddings and most other important occasions. It is considered to be a warm gesture and a part of great hospitality. The coffee beans from Arabia contribute to around 80 % of the world’s coffee bean manufacturing. What makes it superior is its taste and quality. The cultivation takes place at an altitude between 1200- 1500 metres above sea level.
The Middle Eastern countries have come up with their own way of brewing and making their coffees. Coffee is believed to have originated in Ethiopia when a goat herder discovered that the goats had great levels of energy upon chewing certain berries. After he mentioned this to the monastery there were experiments’ carried out and it eventually turned out to be an energy drink. Soon it spread to the rest of the African regions as well as Arabia by the 15th century.
Even though widely known as Arabic coffee, there are two distinct categories – the Saudi Coffee (Al-Qahwa) and the Turkish style coffee. Al- Qahwa is made out of heavily roasted beans while the Turkish style coffee is made using roasted finely ground coffee. The coffee is often found readily available in most Arabic supermarkets, souks and malls. The preparation of the coffee takes place in a traditional pot known as Dallah. There are add-ons that go into the brew apart from the coarsely ground coffee such as cardamoms, saffrons and cloves.
Fritzjames Stephen is a travel writer, who writes content based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life.
