Raja Khan Saracen

 Arabic, which first emerged in the Arabian Peninsula, is now spoken across the MENA region (Middle East, North Africa). Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), also known as Fusha Arabic, is the variant taught in schools and used in formal, literary, and academic contexts. All Arabic speakers use MSA when writing, but there are also many spoken dialects that differ greatly in vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation. The five major dialects are Moroccan, Gulf, Iraqi, Levantine, and Egyptian Arabic—the latter is spoken by over 100 million people, and is one of the most widely understood dialects across the MENA region.

Coffee has a definite place in the Arab culture, traditions and rituals. From a puritan point of view, coffee belongs to the world of the Bedouin Arab. Typically, the Bedouin will wake up in the morning and after praying to Allah, he will start the ritual of making coffee. Coffee is roasted freshly and then it is ground to a rhythm in a wooden mortar that is known as the  Mihbash  in some countries. The coffee is then heated on a wood-fire, and topped up throughout the day. The coffeepot is known throughout the Arab world as the  Dallah , and it takes different shapes in different regions. It is served in a small round cup called  Funjan , which has no handles. Cardamom seeds are always added to the coffee blend, and in some countries, saffron. This Bedouin brew can be  very strong or light depending on the region. However, only a small amount is usually offered in the cup. To the Bedouin Arab, coffee is the symbol of honour and hospitality. It is often the firs...