Saudi Arabia Instructed To Rename 'Arabic Coffee' To 'Saudi Coffee'

The Ministry of Commerce, Saudi Arabia has directed all restaurants, cafes, and coffee roasters across the Kingdom to adopt the renaming of Arabic coffee to ‘Saudi Coffee’. The Consumer Protection Association in Saudi Arabia has declared that not renaming it will constitute a violation.

The move aims to preserve the cultural heritage of the Kingdom and the Ministry of Culture also named 2022 as the ‘Year of Saudi Coffee’ under the support of the Quality of Life Program, one of the programs of the Saudi Vision 2030.

This comes as part of joint action between the two ministries to serve national targets of the “Year of Saudi Coffee” initiative and celebrate Saudi coffee for being a cultural element that expresses the Saudi identity and reflects Saudis’ relations with their unique coffee and the tradition of its preparation and serving.

The significance of Saudi Coffee is deeply ingrained in the Kingdom’s cultural fabric on various occasions.

The rebranding from “Arabic coffee” to “Saudi coffee” will play a role in shaping the country’s identity, as well as contributing to the economy and tourism industry, becoming more apparent. For the Kingdom’s culture- the beverage is more than just a drink and is associated with rituals, practices, and artistic expression to convey kindness, welcome, and aesthetic beauty. Several songs, poetry, and art forms are inspired by this cultural emblem in the Kingdom, including its preparation and presentation to visitors.

Read also: Saudi Arabia And China Sign Approved Destination Status Agreement.

In Saudi Arabia, several diverse flavor profiles and brewing technologies are available in each region showcasing its unique approach to preparing coffee. Central, northern, southern, western, and eastern regions have different methods and flavor enhancers of saffron, cloves, and cardamoms. The freshly ground cardamom is the unique thread among all the Kingdom’s coffee traditions.

In recent years, particular attention has been directed toward coffee plantations in the southwestern Jazan region, where the Khawlani bean variety is grown.

Coffee cultivation is done mainly in the Jazan region, Baha and Abha. The southwestern Jazan region is crucial for the production of the Khawlani bean variety. The lush, cool, and humid climate of the mountainous regions with rich soil, creates an optimal condition for nurturing coffee plants.

The Jazan region is the distinctive agricultural landscape of its highlands, with carefully constructed terraces designed for coffee cultivation. This garnered international recognition. In 2022, UNESCO declared Saudi khawlani coffee and its cultivation traditions in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.