The history of Arabic coffee speaks louder than its great taste and attractive aroma. Since the beginning of Arab civilization, coffee was considered the main drink for people in the Arabian Peninsula, second only to water and milk. Made from brewing ground coffee beans in hot water with cardamom and ginger, the coffee has its own distinct regional taste. Coffee beans have traditionally been harvested in the south of the peninsula, in Yemen and on the Fifa mountains which run along the Jizan region and the Kingdom's border with Yemen in the South. People in the Kingdom have traditionally consumed two different kinds of Arabic coffee. The first is made by brewing coffee beans and cardamom in hot water, while the second is made by brewing coffee husk and ginger in hot water. The latter is enjoyed widely in the south of the country - particularly in Asir and Jizan. According to local custom, each family teaches children how to serve coffee to guests, as part of a ritualized form of Arab generosity. “We usually teach our children how they should hold the coffee pot (in a certain way). They have to hold the pot by its handle with their left hand and pour the coffee into the special cup - which is designed for drinking coffee specifically and called by ‘finjan' in their right hand,” explained Umm Mohammed Jabrah Al-Safhi. She added that the children must present the coffee to the guests with their right hand because presenting coffee with the left hand is a sign of disrespect. “It is a big taboo to present coffee with the left hand as it will indicate the child's bad manners and will affect the family's reputation,” she said. The quantity of coffee in the cup or “finjan” also has a certain meaning depending on different regions in the Kingdom. In the central region, for instance, hosts pour a small quantity of coffee in the cup as it is a sign of warm welcome for the guest and an indication that they expect the guest to drink coffee more than once. In contrast, hosts in the south of the Kingdom normally fill the entire cup as a sign of their generosity. Coffee-drinking etiquette also extend to the guest. After the guest has finished drinking, he or she must present the “finjan” to the host, shaking it if no more coffee is desired or holding it out for a refill. These days Arabic coffee is served everywhere in the Kingdom, including multinational brands that have included it in their menus. Although cappuccinos, espressos, lattes and Turkish coffee have become widely available everywhere, young Saudis still seem to prefer to drink Arabic coffee at home, as it is both part of their heritage and is a source of pure caffeine, which plays a vital role in the body, particularly in the mornings. Consuming Arabic coffee first thing in the morning with a plate of dates is a norm in many households. In fact, families in the Kingdom have traditionally indulged in some coffee early in the morning every day as part of their social activities.
