SAHER Sultan, an Indian, serves her guests qahwah, the traditional Arabic coffee. “Take a sip and you will never know that it was made by me, a non-Arab,” she says. With its strong flavor, the quintessential Arabic infusion pleases the taste buds of many expatriates. A highly nutritious drink, it offers a refreshing alternative to usual beverages. For Sultan, qahwah is the perfect drink when she is tired. She said she learned her brewing skills from a Saudi friend. “Now she tells me that my preparations are perfect,” she said proudly. Sultan said she adds cinnamon, ginger and cardamom, and likes making other improvisations to qahwah, “so that it better suits our tastes,” she said. The traditional Arab method of brewing qahwah includes, finely grinding the roasted beans, after which the ground coffee is boiled for a while in a coffeepot called ‘dallah'. An easier method would be boiling a spoonful of ground qahwah with water. It is customarily served in small cups called “finjaan”, and is taken with or without sugar. The coffee is served with dates and chocolates. Variations are created by adding spices such as cardamom (hayl). Seema Farhan, a Pakistani housewife, believes that qahwah is a sign of hospitality and is a good feature of Saudi culture. “Cold drinks cannot be served at all times while entertaining guests. Our gatherings gain a touch of tradition and culture when we enjoy Arabic coffee together,” she said. Seconding Farhan, Khwaja Nasir Jamal, an Indian, said that expatriates in the Kingdom should adopt the traditions, culture and cuisine of Saudi Arabia, of which qahwah is an important part. He said the drink is best served with Indian and continental cuisine. The story of Arabic coffee is an interesting history of international trade and relations among Arab and non-Arab countries. The Arabic word for coffee is qahwah, adapted in Turkey as ‘kahve'. The Turkish language does not have a ‘W' sound, and from there, the words ‘café' and ‘coffee' originated. Qahwah is actually an old Arabic word. Furthering its popularity are its apparent health benefits. Dr. Akbar Sultan, a pediatrician, said “Qahwah is good for the digestive system and has other healthy effects on the human body. This is probably one reason why it is very common among foreigners,” said Dr. Sultan. Dalip Ramane, a Sri Lankan businessman, who conducts most of his business meetings at coffee shops, said most of his business associates request qahwah during meetings. “Even at home, I ask my wife for the Arabic brew after dinner,” he said.
