Understanding Emirati Culture: Coffee

Khaleej Times

21 Oct 201802:42

Summary

TLDRThe 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.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Sheikh Mohammed Center for Culture Understanding

The script begins with a warm welcome to the Sheikh Mohammed Center for Culture Understanding, emphasizing the open-door and open-mind policy that encourages visitors to ask questions freely. The center aims to foster learning and understanding about the local culture and experiences. The introduction highlights the first activity offered to guests, which is the serving of traditional Arabic coffee, known as 'kapwa', accompanied by dates. The coffee is made with three main ingredients: cardamom, rose water, and Zafra. The script also explains the traditional postures and gestures used when serving coffee, such as extending the cup to request more or shaking it to indicate satisfaction. It mentions the historical practice of using silent servants, who were deaf, to ensure conversations remained private. The script concludes with a brief history of coffee, tracing its origins to Ethiopia and its discovery and development in Yemen, leading to the creation of 'mocha', a term now widely recognized in coffee shops around the world. The session ends with an invitation for further questions and engagement through social media, and a thank you note to the visitors.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Sheikh Mohammed Center for Culture Understanding

This is the name of the cultural center being discussed in the video. It represents the institution hosting the event where the cultural practices and traditions related to Arabic coffee are being explained. The center's signature phrase 'open doors open minds' suggests a welcoming and educational environment, which is central to the video's theme of cultural exchange.

💡Arabic kapwa

Arabic kapwa refers to the traditional Arabic coffee offered to guests as a sign of hospitality. In the script, it is mentioned as the first thing offered to guests, highlighting the importance of coffee in Arabian culture. The term 'kapwa' itself is not a standard term for Arabic coffee, suggesting it may be a local or specific term used by the center.

💡Dates

Dates are a traditional accompaniment to Arabic coffee. They are fruits of the date palm tree and are commonly served in Middle Eastern cultures as a sweet treat. In the script, dates are mentioned alongside Arabic coffee, indicating a customary pairing that enhances the overall experience of the coffee tasting.

💡Cardamom

Cardamom is one of the three main ingredients in the Arabic coffee described in the video. It is a spice that imparts a unique flavor and aroma to the coffee. The use of cardamom in coffee is a distinctive aspect of Arabian culinary traditions and is integral to the cultural experience being conveyed in the video.

💡Rose water

Rose water is another key ingredient in the Arabic coffee, adding a floral note to the beverage. It is a liquid made by steeping rose petals in water and is used widely in Middle Eastern cuisine for both flavor and fragrance. The inclusion of rose water in coffee exemplifies the fusion of flavors that characterizes Arabian hospitality.

💡Zafra

Zafra is mentioned as a component of the Arabic coffee, though the script does not provide a detailed explanation of what it is. It could be a local term for a specific type of coffee bean or preparation method. Its inclusion suggests a unique aspect of the coffee that is part of the cultural experience being shared.

💡Postures and gestures

Postures and gestures are non-verbal cues used in the coffee serving process. The script describes extending the cup to indicate a desire for more coffee and shaking it to signal that one has had enough. These gestures are part of the silent communication with the server, which is a significant aspect of the cultural practice being demonstrated.

💡Silent servant

The term 'silent servant' refers to the practice of having deaf individuals serve coffee to maintain the privacy of the conversation. This historical practice is mentioned to illustrate the importance of discretion and the unique aspects of Arabian coffee service. The script notes that while this was a traditional practice, the current context does not necessarily involve deaf servers.

💡Ethiopia

Ethiopia is credited as the place where coffee was first discovered. The script recounts the story of animals eating coffee berries and becoming energized, which led humans to investigate the plant. This historical context provides a foundation for understanding the origins of coffee and its cultural significance.

💡Yemen

Yemen is identified as the place where coffee was first cultivated and consumed as a beverage. The script describes how coffee beans were crushed, roasted, and blended with water, leading to the creation of the coffee drink as we know it today. This historical insight is crucial for understanding the development of coffee culture.

💡Mocha

Mocha is a term derived from the Yemeni port city of Al-Mokha, which was historically significant in the coffee trade. The script mentions that the term 'mocha' is now commonly used in coffee shops around the world, such as in 'mocha cafe' or 'mocha frappuccino,' indicating the lasting influence of Arabian coffee on global coffee culture.

Highlights

Sheikh Mohammed Center for Culture Understanding offers an open environment for learning about culture and experiences.

The center's signature is 'open doors open minds', encouraging guests to ask any questions to learn more about the culture.

Arabic kapwa, a traditional coffee, is offered to guests as a welcoming gesture.

Dates are served alongside the Arabic coffee, emphasizing the traditional hospitality.

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

Gestures are used to communicate the desire for more coffee or to decline it, showcasing non-verbal communication in the culture.

Extending the cup is a gesture to indicate a desire for more coffee.

Shaking the cup slightly is a polite way to decline more coffee.

Historically, deaf people were employed as 'silent servants' to ensure conversations remained private.

The coffee culture has a rich history, with its origins traced back to Ethiopia.

In Ethiopia, animals consuming coffee led humans to discover its energizing effects.

Yemen is credited with the discovery and utilization of coffee beans, leading to the creation of coffee as we know it.

The term 'mocha' is derived from the place Maha in Yemen, now a common term in coffee shops worldwide.

The session concludes with an invitation for further questions and engagement on social media.

The Sheikh Mohammed Center for Culture Understanding (SMCC) encourages guests to follow them on social media for more interaction.

A final thank you is extended to the guests for their visit, emphasizing the center's hospitality.