Page 89 - All About History - Issue 52-17

How to make…

BEDOUIN COFFEE

NOMADIC WELCOME DRINK Middle east, 1500 – Present

Ingredients
l Whole Arabica coffee beans (unroasted)
l Cardamom pods
l Water
l Optional: cinnamon, saffron, sugar

Did
you know?

Bedouin hospitality is so
inclusive that any traveller
may stay with the nomads
for three days before
being asked why they
are there.

he ancestors of the nomadic Bedouin people METHOD 05 For a more elaborate flavour you can add other
have been present in the Syrian steppe since spices, such as cinnamon and saffron (just a
01 Build a campfire (in the desert for utmost
around 850 BCE, where small, temporary teaspoon or less of each, according to taste).
authenticity) and wait for the flames to burn
Tsettlements formed as people caravanned
down. Then slow roast the coffee beans until they
camels across the desert. They are regarded as 06 When the coffee is ready, transfer it to an elegant
turn a rich, dark brown. If a desert campfire isn’t
the true Arabs. An incredibly welcoming and serving pot known as the dallah. With your guests
available, you can do the steps on a kitchen hob.
hospitable culture, the preparation and drinking seated, stand and pour the first cup (known as a
of coffee is an important ritual for visitors to a fenjaan) for yourself – take a sip to test it!
02 Grind up the beans using a pestle and mortar.
Bedouin camp.
Pound the beans and ring the side of the mortar
The coffee plant originated in Ethiopia but 07 Bedouin tradition dictates that hot coffee be
to let neighbours know that coffee is brewing and
made its way to the Middle East in the 1400s. served to guests from right to left. Fill the small
that they are welcome to join you.
Yemen was in fact the first country to cultivate cups around two-thirds full. If a guest extends his
the beans, and coffee quickly became the drink hand and cup, give him a refill, or if he covers his
03 Crush up an equal amount of cardamom pods
of Islam. Sufi mystics (a branch of Islam) used cup and shakes his hand, he has had enough.
in the same way (if you like, you can then brush
the drink to fuel and energise their practices at
the pestle on your moustache – Bedouin men
night, and the drink – known as ‘qahwa’ (both 08 You can also serve your coffee with a plate of
sometimes do this for the scent of hospitality).
of our words ‘coffee’ and ‘café’ derive from this) dates – a traditional sweet accompaniment for
– quickly spread across the Arabic nations and welcoming guests with coffee that goes perfectly
04 Add the ground cardamom and coffee to your
throughout the Ottoman Empire, making its way with the smoky, spicy coffee.
boiling pot (called a briq) and place it directly onto
to Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries.
the fire. Top it up with some water, and then bring
These days, most countries throughout the 09 Drink your coffee in three sips – it’s good manners.
it to the boil. Let the grounds froth to the top for
Middle East have their own method for brewing Also, be sure not to drink all of it, as the coffee
a few minutes.
and preparing the coffee. grounds will be hiding at the bottom of the cup!
Did you make it? How did it go? www.historyanswers.co.uk /AllAboutHistory @AboutHistoryMag 89