We’re very excited to announce that the Ministry of Culture has officially declared 2022 as the Year of Saudi Coffee. The initiative was launched on January 4, 2022, and now has its own website and a specially designed Arabic coffee (Qahwah) cup logo.
Coffee has been a huge part of the Saudi heritage, making its way into cultural traditions, poems, songs, so much more for decades now. It’s also linked to the national treasure of dates produced in the Kingdom, as the two are always served together.
In a way, Saudi Arabia is known for its amazing coffee, and because of this HH Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, the Minister of Culture has specifically designated this year to promote Arabic coffee as part of the rich Saudi heritage.
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He said: “We are immensely proud of having a diverse, ancient culture, rooted in the depths of this blessed earth from the beginning of history to the present day. Saudi coffee is an important element of our rich culture, not only because it is a delicious beverage that accompanies us in all moments of our lives, but also because it conveys deep meanings of generosity, hospitality, cultural diversity, and the specificity of the unique Saudi culture.”
Saudi coffee is prepared by powdering lightly roasted Arabica beans mixed with cardamom and added to boiling water. The coffee beans are called Khawlani beans and are cultivated in Jizan which is home to 54,000 coffee trees, is responsible for a huge chunk of the nation’s coffee production.
HH Prince Faisal added: “Starting from its cultivation in the south of the Kingdom to its harvest and distribution, to its many preparations, which vary from one region to another, to the diverse traditions in which it is offered, Saudi coffee has gained its cultural value as a social activity par excellence that reflects authentic Saudi values and the special connection between Saudis and their distinctive coffee.”
Let’s sip on some traditional Qahwah, and munch on the tastiest dates in the world, and celebrate the Year of Saudi Coffee.
engage.moc.gov.sa/year-of–saudi-coffee
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