Navigating Coffee Culture An Expats Guide to Saudi Arabia

Image for Navigating Coffee Culture An Expats Guide to Saudi Arabia

Welcome expatriates to the rich tapestry of coffee culture in Saudi Arabia, offering insights and tips for navigating the local coffee scene. Saudia Arabia is a land of many cultural and physical wonders, and coffee is no exception. In fact, coffee has a storied history and significant cultural significance in Saudi Arabia, dating back over five hundred years. Emphasizing the article's relevance to expats seeking to immerse themselves in Saudi Arabia's coffee traditions and customs.

Understanding Coffee Origins and Production

Coffee has been a part of Saudi Arabian culture since the 16th century, and the association between coffee and Saudi Arabia dates back even further to the days of the Prophet Muhammad. Coffee is traditionally grown in the mountainous regions of Saudi Arabia, including the Asir province, which is commonly known as the birthplace of Arabica coffee. It is primarily grown by small-scale farmers, and although Arabica coffee is grown locally, the demand for Arabica coffee in Saudi Arabia is so high that imports from Ethiopia, Yemen, and Colombia are common.

The following Saudi Arabian provinces produce coffee locally: Aseer, Jizan, Baha, and Tathribi Al-Gharbi. Most coffee growers in those provinces realize that many new farmers do not make use of their fertile lands for farming coffee. Here, they learn to farm Arabica coffee and improve their existing operations while creating new coffee farming businesses. So if you want to delve into the coffee production world in Saudi Arabia, you might want to start with these provinces.

Embracing Favorite Coffee Style Drinks

Saudi Arabian coffee is rich, dark, and full of flavor. The traditional Arabic coffee known locally as Al-Qahwa Al-Arabi is a typed blend of spices roasted with natural Arabica coffee. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee immediately takes over the room. Like its surroundings, coffee culture in Saudi Arabia is delicate and requires attention to detail, requiring specific cooking equipment.

  • HAWIYA: This is an essential component of Saudi Arabian coffee culture. Hawiya is a traditional coffee pot made from copper or brass, intricately designed, and containing holes at the bottom, a clay laden funnel, and a long handle.
  • MUGHAL-I: This is a flask-like coffee pot made of brass or copper, with a narrow spout.
  • SOMPT: This is a traditional coffee pestle used to grind coffee beans.
  • BARDAT: A porcelain tray with cup indentions, used to serve brewed coffee to guests.
  • SADUQ: This wooden tray is used to serve coffee and dates to guests, signifying hospitality.

Ingredients: A mix of freshly roasted green Arabica coffee beans, natural spices such as cardamom, ginger, and nutmeg, and water. Brewing: Fresh coffee beans are roasted in a copper or brass pot called Hawiya, for 10-15 minutes. The roasted coffee grounds are added to the Hawiya, through clay funnel while brewing the coffee with hot water beginning from the bottom of the pot. When brewing through the Hawiya, the coffee is passed through the HAWIYA filter, which is the holes through the bottom of the HAWIYA.

Embracing Coffee Drinking Customs and Traditions

Coffee is traditionally served in small portions, known as gahwa, and is offered as a sign of hospitality. Accepting coffee is a delicate matter in Saudi Arabian culture and requires due ceremony. It consists of three cups, known as takhti, of varying strengths from weakest to the strongest.

  • First Cup: This called "Takhti Al-Mahabb," signifying love, served with dates. This cup is weak and flavorless with water.
  • Second Cup: "Takhti Al-Wasat," signifying moderation, strong rich aroma, generic yet pleasant flavor served with dates.
  • Third Cup: "Takhti Al-Akhar," merely a formality, extremely potent and strong taste served with dates.

In commercial places such as restaurants and coffee shops, expats can enjoy various types of coffee-based beverages including Espresso, Turkish coffee, and Arabic coffee. Espresso may be hard to find in traditional coffee shops; however, it is increasingly becoming popular among younger Saudis, especially in clubs and pubs. Turkish coffee (Arabic: Qahwa Turki), is sweetened with sugar and is often served with water on the side to purify the palette in between sips.

Where to go: Recommended Coffee Shops for Expats in Saudi Arabia

Some coffee shops and cafes that aim to cater to expat tastes in Saudi Arabia include:

  • Starbucks: If you're used to your favorite latte or cappuccino, Starbucks is the place to go. Especially popular in Riyadh's King Fahd Gate Complex, even though it is technically outside Riyadh city limits.
  • Cinnabon: Nothing beats a warm and fresh cinnamon roll served with coffee. Cinnabon at the Al-Bujairi Center and King Fahd Gate Complex has an extensive selection of coffee-based beverages.
  • The Bean Erbil:
  • Al Karam
  • Aroma Coffee
  • Flacaffee
  • Harvest Sourcery
  • Soug Soug

Cultural Experiences for Expats in Saudi Arabia

Experience the culture intimately by eating and drinking as the locals do. Here are exciting opportunities that allow expats to learn and experience the rich coffee-drinking culture in Saudi Arabia:

  • Saudi Arabian Coffee Festival:
  • Harvest Festival: This is an excellent time to explore coffee plantations in the mountainous regions of Saudi Arabia accessible during the autumn.
  • Coffee Tour: Visit coffee shops and traditional markets such as Al Ala or Hanayan in Riyadh, and Sulaimaniyyah in Ad-Dawadimiyyah.
  • Coffee Ceremonies: Set up coffee ceremonies and invite local friends, rent a villa or a guest house for a taste of Arabia's unique culture, and let the traditional Bedouin coffee be served, accompanied by dates.
  • Coffee Art Exhibitions: Coffee art exhibitions showcasing the artwork of Saudi Arabian artists, and coffee-based workshops, that take place in various parts of Saudi Arabia throughout the year.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has given expats an insightful and detailed guide into coffee culture in Saudi Arabia. Embrace coffee as a gateway to connecting with local communities, fostering relationships and culture exchange. With a little exploration, you will be able to find and enjoy authentic coffee experiences while respecting Saudi Arabian traditions and customs. We hope you've enjoyed learning about coffee culture in Saudi Arabia and looking forward to welcoming you back to this platform for more exciting posts.