Arabic coffee – intangible cultural heritage | Visit Abu Dhabi
A symbolic act of generosity, serving Arabic coffee is a vital part of Arabian hospitality.
Read more below on the history of Arabic coffee and where you can experience it all, but in the meantime, SUBSCRIBE for top travel tips and insider info on the Visit Abu Dhabi channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8m8-P5KTTN3q6Fzm4Hg-Jg
Visit Bait Al Gahwa for the full Arabic coffee experience – from learning about the ingredients and process, to enjoying a cup with friendly locals. In the past, Bedouins brewed their coffee – which comes blended with cardamom and saffron and is usually served in tiny handleless coffee cups – over a fireplace dug into the ground. Over time, this was replaced by the kuwar, a clay pit with a stove made from pebbles and stone plates. In houses or tents, the kuwar is found in the majlis (sitting place to host guests), with a firewood container and a place for the person preparing the coffee beside it.
Transforming the richly aromatic beans into coffee comprises several steps, from sorting to washing, drying to roasting the beans until they turn red or brown. Roasted beans are ground and brewed to produce an intensely flavoured, aromatic coffee.
The serving of Arabic coffee is guided by elaborate etiquette for the server, the guest and the host. The server must hold the dallah (coffee pot) with the left hand, with the thumb pointing to the top, while the cup is held with the right hand. Guests should use the right hand to receive and return the cup to the server. The most important or oldest guest is served first, and the cup is only one-quarter filled and can then be refilled. The common practice is to drink at least one cup but not exceed three. Arabic coffee is made and enjoyed by men and women from all parts of society, particularly in the home.
Reflecting the cultural importance of this beverage, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, the Sultanate of Oman and Qatar had Arabic coffee inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015.
Planning to visit UAE? If you’re heading to Dubai, enjoy seeing all the Dubai tourist attractions, then after your Dubai vacation, make your way to Abu Dhabi!
RELATED VIDEOS
Prepare a delicious Emirati dessert to have alongside your gahwa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK_a1_BdV4Q
Dive deep into culture by visiting Abu Dhabi’s souks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99l-HhTzVy8
UNESCO sites are great to explore on holiday! Visit the garden city of Al Ain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UO5iwzMahCU
CONNECT WITH US
Plan the holiday of a lifetime with Visit Abu Dhabi
https://visitabudhabi.ae
Connect with Visit Abu Dhabi on
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/visitabudhabi/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/visitabudhabi/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/VisitAbuDhabi
Get top travel tips and insider info when you subscribe to the Visit Abu Dhabi channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8m8-P5KTTN3q6Fzm4Hg-Jg
