Marie Monde, Mange et Mode

A trip to the Middle East is incomplete without coffee (qahwa, قهوة), especially a trip to Dubai! Arabica coffee beans are the original species of coffee. In fact, many historians state that there was not a single coffee plant outside of Africa or Arabia until the 1600s. The words “coffee” (English) and “café” (French/Spanish) originate from the Arabic word “qahwa”.

In Dubai, offering a visitor coffee is the quintessential sign of warmth and hospitality. The preparation and serving of coffee holds such a deep-rooted cultural significance that the United Arab Emirates applied with Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar to have it inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which was achieved in 2015.

So, I’m sure you’re wondering how traditional qahwah tastes. In short, delicious! To be more specific, it has a distinct flavor that is slightly bitter but very complex. It contains cardamom and is often also prepared with saffron and rosewater and other spices. It is served in an intricate and beautiful traditional metal coffee pot called a “Dallah”. The server pours the coffee for all guests into small decorative cups, called “Finjan(s)”, and is presented to guests on a platter with a spread of sweets, such as dates.

Dubai is incredibly accommodating of foreigners and is actually made up of more expats than Emiratis. However, if you want to get a little cultured before your next Dubai, trip, I listed a few coffee tips below. 👇🏽

Etiquette Tips for drinking coffee in Dubai

1. As a guest, use your right hand to receive and return the cup to the server. (Your host, the server will hold the dallah (coffee pot) with the left hand, with their thumb pointing to the top, and hold the finjal (cup) with the right hand.)
2. The most important or oldest guest is served first
3. Coffee is served with dates and other sweets, not cream and sugar.

Stay tuned for more photos and videos regarding my Dubai trip, and follow me on instagram, @marie_mange_monde

(some IG posts you may like:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyQsaO3MnNu/ and https://www.instagram.com/p/CyOC7s8u8V-/?img_index=1 and https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cy4hkXoIqrW/?igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng%3D%3D )