Coffee and Tea


Coffee and tea are very important drinks in MENA. While Arabs started to drink coffee during the 1200s, Europeans started their coffee drinking habits in the 1600s. Coffee and tea are usually served hot with breakfast, after lunch and after dinner. When visitors come tea and coffee are served. They are also served at business meetings and social events or gatherings. For social gatherings, tea, flavored with mint or sage, is usually served with cake, cookies or any type of sweets. Later, and before the end of the event, coffee is served with dates or chocolate. 



It is popular to see people selling beverages in the souks, bazara and streets. Men selling coffee are called “coffee sellers” and those selling tea are called “tea pourers”. 




A fun fact, according to the International Coffee Organization (ICO) report (2022), the consumption of coffee in the Arab world is estimated to be 1.4 billion cups of coffee daily.


Edited by Raja Khan, PhD

Thanks to Sarah Risha.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Modern Standard Arabic and Arabic Dialects

Image
Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Arabic Dialects Learning about Arabic dialect variations is essential to effectively communicating with Arabic speakers from different regions and comprehensively understanding the language and culture. There are two main varieties of Arabic: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), also called Fusha, and Arabic dialects. MSA is the standard variety. It is mainly used in official documents and writing. People in all Arabic-speaking countries universally understand it—it is the language of media, literature, and formal settings. On the other hand, Arabic dialects are specific to certain regions or countries, reflecting the cultural and social diversity of the Arab world. These dialects are used in daily conversations and informal settings. 
Read more

Is Arabic worth it?

Image
Arabic is an important language to learn, as it opens up communication with millions of people across the globe and can lead to numerous employment opportunities. With 22 countries officially recognizing Arabic as their first language, Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is spoken by 275 million people, ranking it the fifth most widely spoken language in the world. It is also one of the six official languages of the United Nations. By improving your knowledge of the language, you can gain a better understanding of the Arabic world and its culture.
Read more

Arabic Language

Image
 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.
Read more