Understanding Emirati Culture: Coffee

Summary

The Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding promotes open dialogue with their 'Open Doors, Open Minds' philosophy, encouraging guests to ask any questions about UAE culture. Visitors are welcomed with Arabic coffee, which contains cardamom, rose water, and saffron, and are taught the traditional gestures for accepting or declining more coffee. The history of coffee is traced from its origins in Ethiopia to its popularization in Yemen. The session ends with an invitation to follow the center on social media for further inquiries.

Takeaways

• 🌐 The Sheikh Mohammed Center for Cultural Understanding promotes open dialogue and learning about the culture and experiences of the United Arab Emirates.
• 🍵 The center offers guests Arabian 'Kapwa' coffee, which is an important part of Emirati hospitality.
• 📜 The script mentions three main ingredients in the Arabic coffee: cardamom, rose water, and Zafra.
• 🤔 To request more coffee, guests are instructed to extend their cup, signaling a desire for more.
• 🚫 To decline further coffee, a slight shake of the cup is used to indicate that they have had enough.
• 🔍 The script explains that the silent servant, traditionally a deaf person, was used to ensure conversations remained private.
• 📝 The history of coffee is traced back to Ethiopia, where animals were observed eating coffee beans and becoming energized.
• 🔥 In Yemen, coffee was discovered to be useful and the process of crushing, roasting, and blending with water was developed.
• 📍 The term 'mocha', now commonly used in coffee shops like Starbucks and Costa, originates from the Yemeni port of Al-Mokha.
• 💬 The session concludes with an invitation for further questions and engagement through the center's social media platforms.
• 🙏 The speaker expresses gratitude to the audience for attending and participating in the cultural understanding session.

Q & A

What is the signature slogan of Sheikh Mohammed Center for Culture Understanding?

The signature slogan is 'open doors open minds', emphasizing the importance of asking questions to learn and understand more about the culture and experiences of the country.

What does the center offer to its guests as a traditional welcome?

The center offers its guests Arabic kapwa, which is Arabic coffee, along with dates as a traditional welcome.

What are the three main ingredients in the Arabic coffee served at the center?

The three main ingredients in the Arabic coffee are cardamom, rose water, and Zafra.

What is the significance of the postures and gestures used while serving coffee?

The postures and gestures are used to communicate silently with the server. Extending the cup indicates a desire for more coffee, while shaking it means you have had enough.

How did the tradition of using silent servants originate?

The tradition originated to ensure that important conversations during coffee service did not leave the house or room. Silent servants, often deaf, would not be able to repeat what they heard.

Where was coffee originally discovered and what was the initial reaction to it?

Coffee was originally discovered in Ethiopia. The initial reaction was curiosity, as animals eating the coffee beans became energized, prompting humans to explore its uses.

How did coffee evolve from its discovery in Ethiopia to a beverage?

After its discovery in Ethiopia, coffee was rediscovered and developed into a beverage in Yemen. People there started crushing the beans, roasting them, and blending them with water to create the final coffee drink.

What is the significance of the term 'mocha' in modern coffee culture?

The term 'mocha' comes from the area Maha in Yemen where coffee was developed into a beverage. Today, it is used in the names of various coffee drinks like mocha cafe and mocha frappuccino in well-known coffee shops.

How can one follow Sheikh Mohammed Center for Culture Understanding for more information or questions?

You can follow the center on its social media platforms, where you can post your questions and hopefully receive answers.

What is the historical connection between the coffee served at the center and the term 'mocha'?

The historical connection is that the coffee served at the center, which includes ingredients like cardamom, rose water, and Zafra, has its roots in Yemen, where the term 'mocha' originated from the area Maha.

What is the cultural significance of the coffee-drinking gesture of extending the cup?

The gesture of extending the cup is a non-verbal way of communicating to the server that you would like more coffee, showcasing the importance of body language in hospitality and service.