• A baker holds up a seeded white loaf of bread at a bakery in Beirut, Lebanon, which faces a food crisis because of war in Europe. All photos: Bloomberg
    A baker holds up a seeded white loaf of bread at a bakery in Beirut, Lebanon, which faces a food crisis because of war in Europe. All photos: Bloomberg
  • A worker opens a sack of flour to prepare bread dough in Beirut. Lebanon's wheat importers are already rationing flour sales to counter panic buying.
    A worker opens a sack of flour to prepare bread dough in Beirut. Lebanon's wheat importers are already rationing flour sales to counter panic buying.
  • Lebanon, already suffering from years of financial crisis, has faced new problems since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
    Lebanon, already suffering from years of financial crisis, has faced new problems since Russia invaded Ukraine in February.
  • Lebanon normally buys 96 per cent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine.
    Lebanon normally buys 96 per cent of its wheat from Russia and Ukraine.
  • The war between two of the world's biggest wheat exporters has sparked fears of a food crisis in many Middle Eastern countries.
    The war between two of the world's biggest wheat exporters has sparked fears of a food crisis in many Middle Eastern countries.
  • Lebanese importers are struggling to get dollars from a subsidy programme to buy wheat from new suppliers.
    Lebanese importers are struggling to get dollars from a subsidy programme to buy wheat from new suppliers.
  • As countries try to secure new sources of wheat, cash-strapped Lebanon's small market of 6 million people could go without.
    As countries try to secure new sources of wheat, cash-strapped Lebanon's small market of 6 million people could go without.
  • Lebanon lacks grain storage after silos were destroyed in the 2020 Beirut Port blast.
    Lebanon lacks grain storage after silos were destroyed in the 2020 Beirut Port blast.
  • The country needs 50,000 tonnes of wheat to feed its people for a month.
    The country needs 50,000 tonnes of wheat to feed its people for a month.
  • Subsidies keep the price of bread in Lebanon artificially low.
    Subsidies keep the price of bread in Lebanon artificially low.
  • But a loaf now costs on average 10,000 Lebanese pounds, or $0.45, more than six times the price in 2019.
    But a loaf now costs on average 10,000 Lebanese pounds, or $0.45, more than six times the price in 2019.
  • Millers estimate that without subsidies, prices could more than double.
    Millers estimate that without subsidies, prices could more than double.
  • Analysts fear that could cause social unrest in a country where three quarters of the population now live in poverty.
    Analysts fear that could cause social unrest in a country where three quarters of the population now live in poverty.

MENA

Lebanon

Wheat shortages take a toll on Lebanon's bakeries - in pictures

Fears of a food crisis have been triggered by the war between Ukraine and Russia - two of the world's biggest wheat exporters

The National

April 09, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

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Is it worth it? We put cheesecake frap to the test.

The verdict from the nutritionists is damning. But does a cheesecake frappuccino taste good enough to merit the indulgence?

My advice is to only go there if you have unusually sweet tooth. I like my puddings, but this was a bit much even for me. The first hit is a winner, but it's downhill, slowly, from there. Each sip is a little less satisfying than the last, and maybe it was just all that sugar, but it isn't long before the rush is replaced by a creeping remorse. And half of the thing is still left.

The caramel version is far superior to the blueberry, too. If someone put a full caramel cheesecake through a liquidiser and scooped out the contents, it would probably taste something like this. Blueberry, on the other hand, has more of an artificial taste. It's like someone has tried to invent this drink in a lab, and while early results were promising, they're still in the testing phase. It isn't terrible, but something isn't quite right either.

So if you want an experience, go for a small, and opt for the caramel. But if you want a cheesecake, it's probably more satisfying, and not quite as unhealthy, to just order the real thing.

 

 

IF YOU GO

The flights

FlyDubai flies direct from Dubai to Skopje in five hours from Dh1,314 return including taxes. Hourly buses from Skopje to Ohrid take three hours.

The tours

English-speaking guided tours of Ohrid town and the surrounding area are organised by Cultura 365; these cost €90 (Dh386) for a one-day trip including driver and guide and €100 a day (Dh429) for two people. 

The hotels

Villa St Sofija in the old town of Ohrid, twin room from $54 (Dh198) a night.

St Naum Monastery, on the lake 30km south of Ohrid town, has updated its pilgrims' quarters into a modern 3-star hotel, with rooms overlooking the monastery courtyard and lake. Double room from $60 (Dh 220) a night.

 

While you're here
Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Dubai Bling season three

Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

Brief scores:

Juventus 3

Dybala 6', Bonucci 17', Ronaldo 63'

Frosinone 0

Transgender report
Tuesday's fixtures
Group A
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
Iran v Uzbekistan, 8pm
N Korea v UAE, 10.15pm
Quick pearls of wisdom

Focus on gratitude: And do so deeply, he says. “Think of one to three things a day that you’re grateful for. It needs to be specific, too, don’t just say ‘air.’ Really think about it. If you’re grateful for, say, what your parents have done for you, that will motivate you to do more for the world.”

Know how to fight: Shetty married his wife, Radhi, three years ago (he met her in a meditation class before he went off and became a monk). He says they’ve had to learn to respect each other’s “fighting styles” – he’s a talk it-out-immediately person, while she needs space to think. “When you’re having an argument, remember, it’s not you against each other. It’s both of you against the problem. When you win, they lose. If you’re on a team you have to win together.” 

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Updated: April 09, 2022, 9:53 AM
LebanonPhotography