The story of coffee is supposed to have started with a goat from Kaffa, Ethiopia, who ate cherry beans and went off dancing under the moonlight.
When it comes to the Arab world, coffee began its journey in about the 10th century, and was grown in Yemen before being smuggled to Mecca and subsequently around Europe centuries after that. It was heavily used during religious rituals as the drink for the soul, known as qahwa, meaning “wine”. This “Arabian wine” was feared to be “the work of Satan” after many became addicted to it in Europe. It was forbidden until Pope Clement VIII was unable to resist its enchanting taste and announced it as a Christian drink. Today, it’s one of the most widely consumed drinks in the world. As a coffee fanatic, I believe it is the best drink one could have at any time of the day.
It’s important to acknowledge the efforts of coffee farmers, who grow the beans, take care of them and harvest them before it’s delivered to us as a delicious cup of joy.
In the UAE, coffee is a drink that almost every Emirati family consumes at home on a daily basis. Arabic coffee is the most popular because it ties together many social elements and values. It’s a tradition that will no doubt be carried on through the generations. Younger people now seem to be developing an interest in different types of coffee, brewing methods and coffee-making skills. People are becoming more familiar with home brewing, with more choices available than ever before.
Cafes are helping these trends by offering educational classes and hands-on courses such as free coffee-tasting or “cupping” events. During cupping, coffee samples from different regions of the world are sniffed and slurped in an attempt to engage as many senses for extra pleasure. This helps in differentiating between speciality coffees versus commercial ones. The Dubai Coffee Museum, which is a unique platform that prioritises free coffee education for everybody, is worth visiting if you’re as interested in coffee as much as I am.
Recently, the European and the American coffee associations took a step towards possible unification. This would create opportunities for speciality coffee around the world under unified standards, and could also translate positively to the UAE. It would also offer educational programmes that would expand the professional opportunities and benefit every member, whether they be a barista, roaster, producer or retailer.
The UAE’s role in the coffee movement was evident at the recent Gulfood. Coffee experts and competitors from around the world gathered to share knowledge and skills with the local market. I suspect there are many more coffee-filled surprises on the way. It’s all brewing in the UAE.
Zainab Al Mousawi is studying for a master’s in clinical social work at the University of Melbourne.
If you have a good story to tell or an interesting issue to debate, contact Melinda Healy on mhealy@thenational.ae.
