The vibrant coffee culture of Saudi Arabia

Coffee drinking is one of the distinctive features of Arab culture. In the Arabian Peninsula and the Levant, coffee is not only a drink but an intrinsic cultural cornerstone, where certain rituals are to be maintained while drinking the beverage. 

However, the Western-style cafe culture has made the norms not as stringent as they used to be in Arab countries, with the current wave of modernisation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia just bolstering the cafe culture with a blend of traditional rustic Arab touch along with a tad bit of modernisation. It effectively serves as a tool for socialisation for locals and people visiting the Kingdom, not only as tourists but also as pilgrims, as the country holds two of Islam's holiest cities.

This writer had the privilege of doing Umrah a few months ago. As a huge connoisseur of coffee whose second home is in the cafes of Dhanmondi, he could not help but notice the country's coffee-drinking culture being catapulted into being one of the cornerstones that the Saudi government is displaying to the world as their cultural heritage. 

Although there are quite a few theories about the origin of coffee, with opinions ranging from neighbouring Yemen to Ethiopia,

Saudi Arabia has a long coffee-drinking culture dating back to pre-modern times, traditionally known as 'Qahwa' with an emphasis on family-oriented as well as social settings, with its origins in the nomadic traditions of hospitality. 

The culture is so widespread that even the first thing an Arab bedouin would offer a guest is a cup of coffee. In the periods before the discovery of oil, the country already had coffee places spread like patchwork throughout, known as 'Maqha', which used to serve as a huge hub for the socialisation of the Arabs.

However, as globalisation, as well as the recent wave of westernisation, swept across the country, more American-style coffee houses, as well as brands, started entering the country, with big names like Starbucks, Tim Hortons, and Dunkin Donuts having a huge presence in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina. With them being frequented more by the local Arabs than the pilgrims themselves, at least from what the writer experienced during his time there, with female baristas being ubiquitous, something that happens to be a recent addition as well, after much of the restrictions on women were lifted through a series of reforms.

The Western food chains, however, did not outshine the local coffee chains, which not only pertain to the 'Maqha' setting when it comes to the serving of coffee in a traditional Arab kettle but also have interiors that are quite congruent with the rough and unforgiving landscape of Arabia. They serve many traditional Arab desserts that are characteristic of the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia, where the two holy cities of Islam belong. 

However, the writer found them situated on the outskirts of Mecca and Medina rather than in the city centres, where most coffee houses are Western. Al-Rabie Cafe is a notable Arab brand.

The taste of Arab brewed coffee, however, is extraordinary, and if someone is a coffee aficionado and has acquired a taste for coffee, Arab coffee will slowly grow into them, and they will find it to have a way richer aroma than what they consume in Bangladesh.

 Even some Western brands, which are often criticised for being more like sweetened syrup than coffee, retain their characteristic strong flavour in Saudi Arabia, with the Saudi rendition of Mocha being the writer's personal favourite. 

For any connoisseur of coffee, Saudi Arabia is one of the best possible locations. Regarding prices, they are reasonable in every metric except for some of the global coffee chains being a tad bit expensive. However, people not used to drinking coffee with a strong flavour will not get hooked on Arab coffee.

As Saudi Arabia modernises in all possible sectors, they have maintained a healthy degree of pertinence between their traditional coffee culture and the Western-style coffee chains, with the country brewing one of the finest coffees in the world. Coffee connoisseurs will find themselves at ease in the Kingdom, whether they visit the country for religious or other reasons.

kabirrassiqaziz@gmail.com