Why is coffee called the wine of Muslims?
Honoré de Balzac once said I couldn’t work or live without coffee. Coffee is one of the most popular drinks in the world, which has had a profound impact on modern human society.
As we all know, the origin of coffee comes from Ethiopia. However, the first place where coffee is known is in Yemen, According to legend, there is a mosque that is surrounded by a lot of shepherds, and one day, the shepherd suddenly found his goats seemed crazy, just red eyes, not sleeping, full of energy. So they started to follow the goat and found that the goat was eating a very strange plant, so the shepherd took the plant and took it to the mosque nearby and asked the imam of the mosque, but the imam thought it was very interesting and he wanted to make a cup of juice from the fruit. So in the evening, when no one else was around, he took the fruit out and crushed it and boiled it. After boiling it, it gave off a fragrant smell. He took a sip. It was bitter and unpleasant, but it made one want to drink again. As a result, Imam, an old man, had been unable to sleep after drinking many cups of juice squeezed out by himself and was extremely excited and felt that he was particularly energetic. The next day he told people that this fruit had such an effect that it was called “Muslim wine” because we all know that Muslims are not allowed to drink alcohol.
Middle Eastern Coffee Culture
Coffee originated in Ethiopia and was widespread in the Yemeni district of Arabic by the 15th century. At first, the Arabs only used coffee as a refreshing drug. Because of the improvement in the way coffee is made, it gradually became a favorite drink in every household.
For the coffee in the Middle East, The first cafes were all born in Muslim areas, where a group of people gathered around and brewed coffee. we can find they usually use the pot which is called “dallah” put into a small ceramic cup without a handle. The cup has a capacity of 60-90ml (2-3oz fl). Arabica coffee is enjoyed in mini cups because the coffee is very hot, which makes it easier to cool down quickly. Whenever a guest wants more coffee, the host or waiter will continue pouring coffee.
Regional Coffee
Middle Eastern coffee culture is also divided into several types of coffee because of the different local brewing methods. The coffee is usually brewed with saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, or cloves.
- Egyptian Coffee
with a small cup and a layer of foam. This layer of foam shows that the coffee was prepared correctly. This foam is known as the “face”
- Lebanese Coffee
In Lebanon, coffee is boiled once and consumed without a face.
- Yemeni Coffee
The light-colored beans produced by Yemen were the source of the word “mocha.” These beans are often more mild than their counterparts in Lebanon and Egypt.
- Saudi Arabia Coffee
offee is a symbol of hospitality throughout the Middle East. In Saudi Arabia, it is impossible to provide good hospitality without offering a cup of coffee.
In the United Arab Emirates, the modern consumer can choose from an impressive variety of coffees with cardamom-flavored cappuccinos in sophisticated cafes.
- Kuwaiti Coffee
Food and drink are an important aspect of Kuwaiti culture. After lunch, tea is usually served with mint or saffron, while coffee is served for tourists. Whenever someone comes, the first traditional service is Arabic coffee.
- Turkish Coffee
Turkish coffee is made from a slow brew of ground coffee. Afterward, the coffee grounds can be precipitated, or they can be mixed with sugar and drunk.
