Saudi Arabia’s Qahwa: A Brewing Coffee Affair You Can’t Miss (image-X/BaytAlFann)

Attention coffee lovers! There are a variety of coffee flavours out there, but there is one that you simply cannot miss: Saudi Coffee, or Qahwa. There is a rich and deep-rooted history between coffee and the Kingdom.

Centuries ago, the story of Saudi coffee is believed to have originated in Yemen in the 15th century in Sufi Shrines. At the time, it was directly related to religious practices, as coffee helped people fast in the day and stay awake at night, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.

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From there, coffee and its flavours spread across Europe. The word “coffee” comes from the Dutch “koffie,” which is borrowed from Turkish “kahve,” which came from the Arabic “qahwah.”

(image-X/BaytAlFann)

Considered as a symbol of generosity rooted in the culture of Saudi Arabia, coffee is the first beverage offered to guests in any Saudi household. The customary practice is so entrenched in the tradition of the Kingdom that refusing the drink is considered rude and disrespectful to the hosts.

Usually served from a coffee pot or a “Dallah” into small cups called “finajals,” Qahwa is best paired with dates, nuts, or candies to even the bitterness. The rich brew is served unfiltered, hence the bitterness, after the beans are first roasted and then boiled. The techniques behind brewing differ from region to region. Sometimes the drink may have a touch of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, or saffron.

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Fun fact: the Arabica is one of the most popular and well-known types of coffee bean, with nearly 60 percent of the coffee beans produced in the world being Arabica varieties.

(image-X/BaytAlFann)

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A stroll through Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al Khobar will offer a variety of coffee shops for everyone. The coffee culture is soon to be elevated with a new project called Coffee City in the Al Baha region planned by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. The site, part of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, will span roughly 5.5 million square meters with over 300,000 coffee trees.

Head to the place where the rich brew has its deep history. To all coffee lovers out there, Saudi coffee is a must try when visiting the Kingdom.