PING! Geneo again! Arabic Coffee!

The spiced coffee recipe calls for Arabic coffee..and I dont know how to
make that! Got a recipe, hmmmmm? blink,blink, blink....

Geno2345...

Remember that Arabic coffee can be strong.
The first time I drank it I stayed awake for over 24 hours.

Turkish and Arabian
A strong, slightly bitter coffee that is usually served sweettened.

Boil 2 teaspoons of sugar (or to taste) with one small coffee cup of water
in either a traditional ibrik, a small brass pot with a narrow top and long
handle, or a small sauucepan.
Add two teaspoons very finely ground cofee, stiring well.
Heat again untill the coffee froths up, remove pot from heat and allow to
settle then repeat twice more.
Allow to settle again, serve,
A cardammon pod or a clove or two or a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg can be
added to the water before boiling. Will send you "A Little Coffee
Cookbook" in the Sheeeppees care package.

Arab Culture

By Aida Hasan Articles in this TopicDiscussions in this Topic

My appreciation for the flavor and tradition of Arabic coffee serving began
on a visit to the Palestinian village my parents grew up in. I'm not a
coffee drinker, but somehow, there, Arabic coffee became part of my
experience , my feeling, of what it means to be Arab. The deliciously strong
aroma filled the air of every home we visited and I learned then that the
serving of coffee is more than just a casual “by the way, would you like a
cup of coffee?” offering. Offering coffee to your guests is considered a
necessity, and it is a stable tradition in the Arab world. Since refusing
the coffee from our hosts would be seen as a refusal of their genorosity,
saying no thank you was just not an option for me. Consequently, with every
home we visited and every tempting demi tasse or “finjan” (small size cup,
or cup and saucer) that I was offered, I became increasingly appreciative of
it. Cup after cup, I was hooked on Arabic coffee.

Arabic coffee is similar to espresso in strength but still uniquely
different from it in flavor and aroma. The flavor of it may vary slightly
because of various spices added to it like cardamom (the most common spice
used), or ginger. However, the preparation and serving of coffee is still
generally the same across the Arab world. In virtually any Arab country and
Arab home, the ritual of coffee making and serving is a sign that a guest is
welcomed and honored. The basic ritual has not changed much over time or
geographical locations-- from country to country or from desert to village
to city.
Generosity and hospitality have always been of utmost importance to an Arab
host. The Al Murrah bedouins of the Saudi Arabian desert shared that same
tradition according to the observations of one ethnographic researcher.
Drinking weak coffee throughout the day, they make a fresh pot of coffee
whenever a guest arrives, the preparation of which is a carefully performed
ritual. The coffee beans are roasted in a light skillet and then ground in a
brass mortar. The grounding of the beans becomes a signal of welcoming.
While grounding the beans, the host beats the side of the mortar to produce
a loud ringing that serves as an invitation for anyone nearby to stop by and
have fresh coffee. After the beans are ground into a powder they are poured
into a shiny brass coffee pot. Boiling water is poured onto the pot and the
coffee is brought to a boil, adding a handful of crushed cardamom beans to
the coffee. Then, holding a stack of cups in his right hand, and the coffee
pot in his left, he pours a small amount of coffee for himself and tastes
the coffee to ensure (and to show his guests) that the coffee is suitable
for his guests and that it has just the right flavor. After determining so,
he proceeds to pour coffee for the primary guest and then serves each guest
following that. After each guest is served, he pours a cup for himself and
joins them.

In most modern Arab homes, the mortar has been replaced by an electric
coffee grinder. Coffee beans can also be bought already ground. However, the
ritual of coffee serving is still carried out with immense care, and is
still a great gesture of welcoming in virtually any Arab home. At special
occasions, or even just during visits from neighbors, coffee is very much a
part of socializing. Upon finishing a cup of coffee, the guests usually
return the kind gesture from their host by saying the following kind words:
“fi sehtuk” ("to your health", said to a male, or "fi sehtik" said to a
female), or “fil afrahh” ("to your happiness"). So, if you happen to be
invited for a cup of coffee in an Arab home, it is wise to remember these
kind words, and, more importantly, the meaning of coffee serving in Arab
culture.