Arabian Flavors

Saudi Dates: A Portrait of The Sacred Fruit

By Mohammed Bin Ismail Al-Ismail

Date palms emerge across the landscapes of Saudi Arabia, sprouting sacred fruit, creating the ideal oasis. The palm offers shelter and sustenance and is held in high esteem in the region. Dates are referenced throughout the Qur’an and some consider the palm as the tree of life and power. Harvesters in Saudi Arabia have honed their skills over the centuries ensuring the best product. Saudi Arabia is home to the world’s largest date palm oasis which is also a UNESCO’s Heritage site. A great pride of the country, dates are also the perfect coffee accompaniment.

Saudi Dates: A Portrait of the Sacred Fruit explores the many facets of this important fruit and its unique beauty. Original photography by Oliver Pilcher and illustrations by Rafael Alterio are supplemented by images by Ayoub Alsuhaibani. Created in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture, this title is the latest addition to the Saudi Arabia series, inviting readers to experience the many wonders of the nation.

Mohammed Bin Ismail Al-Ismail is Head of King Abdullah international city for dates. He is also a researcher and a specialist in palm trees and dates farming and production.

The palm tree is distinguished among other trees; some consider it to be the tree of life and power. Its fruit has been a primary source of food for desert peoples, caravans and tribes migrating throughout the peninsula and the region. It was (and it remains) a profound symbol for many preIslamic and Islamic civilizations and cultures.

Today, the Arabian Gulf region is home to the world’s most extensive plantations. Researchers determined that they existed earlier than 5000 BCE, but cannot pinpoint the tree’s precise origins. Some believe it is indigenous to various regions in the Arabian Peninsula, such as the Al-Ahsa Oasis, while others believe its origins were in southern Iraq or Bahrain.

With deep roots spreading through the soil, a large trunk standing tall, large green fronds reaching the sky and an abundance of fruit, the date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifera) has a story that has transcended time, standing tall in its own power. The palm tree has a long history of sheltering travelers from the harshness of the sun’s rays. The good tree, as it is called, was blessed by Almighty God and honored in his sacred book, the Holy Qur’an:

“Do you not see how Allah has given the example of a good word? It is like a good tree, whose root is frmly fxed and whose branches reach the sky” (14:24).

It was reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) mentioned the palm tree, its advantages and its importance on several occasions, including breaking fast in the Holy month of Ramadan, during wars, while traveling and at other times. It is said that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told his wife Aisha: “A house which has dates will never suffer hunger” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2046). This indicates that dates not only provide bare sustenance but also fulfll a body’s needs with necessary nutrition. Thus, the regions where palm trees are grown, and the regions that depend on dates as nourishment, are less affected by famine.

The palm tree has seen generations come and go. Its fruit has provided people with sustenance, its wood has been used for constructing tools and dwellings, and it has provided shade in the hot desert from the sun’s searing rays. In many areas, the date palm tree has become a staple element in culture, heritage and religion. This is the story of the ancient palm tree.

Saudi Coffee: The Culture of Hospitality

By Maher Al Nammary

Coffee is a staple across the globe as a warm beverage to start the morning or the perfect pairing with dessert. In Saudi Arabia, coffee is a symbol. A symbol of hospitality, a symbol of national pride, and a symbol of time-honored traditions. Grown mainly in the southwest of the country, coffee beans are carefully tended, harvested, and roasted according to methods particular to each region, which provides a variety of favors and aromas. The methods of serving coffee in Saudi Arabia have a long history and must be faithfully respected to ensure the appropriate welcome to guests. Hospitality is an important tradition in the Kingdom and is always accompanied with a cup of coffee.

Saudi Coffee: The Culture of Hospitality examines the region’s coffee, from seedling to refreshment. Original photography by Oliver Pilcher and illustrations by Rafael Alterio are supplemented by images by Ibrahim Sarhan, Mohammed Albaijan and Dhafer Alshehri.

Created in collaboration with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of Culture, this title is the latest addition to the Saudi Arabia series, inviting readers to experience the many wonders of the nation.

Maher Raed Al Nammary is a Saudi Arabian chef, hospitality professional, and culinary educator with the goal of aim of bridging cultures and fostering understanding through the magic of food and art. His passion for the world of food and beverage stems from his belief that one can create deep and transcendent connections by sharing what we eat and drink.

The lands, dunes, valleys, highlands and shores of Saudi Arabia are fertile with folklore, culture and religion. The tale of Saudi Arabian coffee perfectly refects this vibrant culture. It began with a proud heritage that values hospitality and generosity; it became an integral part of customs dating back thousands of years; and it celebrates the diversity of the Kingdom with its mosaic of unique favors.

Arabian coffee beans once traveled on caravans through hajj and umrah to reach the farthest corners of the world, accompanied by the mélange of spices favoring the khamsin winds that fell upon the travelers. To this day, the winds carry the scents of these spices, which are blended into cups of coffee and served to honor guests of the Kingdom. “Coffee with intention, and tea with fow.”

This Bedouin saying might not mean much in literal translation, but it speaks of the customs of pouring both tea and coffee. When you serve coffee, there’s always a conscious choosing of who is served in sequence. The frst to be served is usually the oldest or the person with the highest status. Then all guests to that person’s right are served, followed by guests to the left. If there is a dispute over which guest of age and status should be served frst, then the server will either proceed from right to left or set the cup between them and say, “Hishmatkom bainkom,” meaning “Importance is between you to decide,” and one will usually defer to the other. assouline.com

Aside from drinking no more than four cups, other traditions include not blowing into the cup to cool the coffee but instead swirling the cup from right to left. Guests also know not to take more than three sips to fnish a cup. In terms of communicating with the host, the guest customarily wiggles the cup when done rather than request a refll.

The cultural attachments to coffee and its traditions have become a culture within itself where many enthusiasts, connoisseurs and artists use its importance and symbolism as a core component in their artistic production, poems or literature. It has also found a place in pop culture as a form of representing certain feelings associated to forming connections or national pride, or as the symbol of the evolution of these connections and traditions from past to present.

To young Saudis, the love of coffee and its unfaltering attachment to their daily lives illustrate that ways of life may evolve but certain aspects of culture will not die. Rather than diminishing in importance or attachment, these traditions, like those surrounding Saudi coffee, evolve into a new sense of place and appreciation.