ROADSIDE TEA VENDOR

Roadside vendors in remote areas selling tea and fresh roasted corn is very common here in Saudi Arabia.  It's a nice way to take a break from traveling and stretch one's legs.

The photos in today's post were taken by my friend Mariette Raubenheimer on a recent trip she took to Taif, Saudi Arabia.  Thanks to Mariette for allowing me to share them with you.  

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Sweets for the Sweet Tooth

I adore looking in the bakery at the beautiful displays of cakes and other sweets.  Saudis in general have a real sweet tooth. 

Saudi hospitality dictates that sweets and tea or juice are automatically offered to guests.  So it's no surprise that diabetes and obesity contribute to health issues of the citizenry. 

My husband does not have a sweet tooth, but I do - but he's very good about not caving in to my cravings all the time.  Honestly I have found that these scrumptious looking treats oftentimes don't exactly taste as good as they look.  So I manage to find joy and satisfaction in just looking and taking photos!

This post is linked to My Corner of the World. Do check out the other posts from bloggers from all over the world. 

 

The Coffee Server - in Jeddah

At all functions and events I have attended here in Saudi Arabia, there are always beautifully tailored, traditionally dressed men offering Arabic coffee to guests.  The Arabic coffee is called gahwa and the man serving it is called "gahwa jee." This was at an art event I attended a few years ago.

This post is linked to My Corner of the World. Do check out the other posts from bloggers from all over the world.

The Beautiful Dallah

The dallah coffee pot is very distinctive with its exaggerated spout and an overall shape resembling the female form, with a waistline and bulbous hips.  It can be made out of a variety of materials, like steel, brass, silver, plastic, or even gold (used on really special occasions or by royalty).  It is a prominent part of Middle East identity and culture, representing the warm hospitality of the Arab people.   

Al Ula Hospitality

Arab hospitality is well known. It is common practice at events or hotels in Saudi Arabia that guests are greeted by a handsome well dressed young man serving Arabic coffee, called "qahwah."  Carrying the long spouted traditional Saudi teapot called "dallah," along with tiny serving cups, the "qahwahjee" (coffee server) offers the hot drink to guests.

Qahwah tastes nothing at all like American coffee. It is made using green coffee beans and cardamom.  The amount of cardamom is what makes the difference in the taste. I prefer it with a stronger cardamom taste.  

Jeddah - Saudi Hospitality

It's not unusual at events, gatherings, some businesses, and Saudi homes to be offered a small cup of hot gahwa upon your arrival.  Gahwa is Arabic coffee made with cardamom.  

Jeddah's Ritz Carlton at Night

This magnificent bulding was originally built as a palace, but it is now the Ritz Carlton of Jeddah.  It is located along Jeddah's Corniche right along the Red Sea. 

Saudi Arabia Crystal Dallah

The dallah is a symbol of Arabian hospitality.  Just about every home in Saudi Arabia has a dallah (or several) from which gahwa is served.   Gahwa is the traditional Arabic coffee which is offered to guests in every Saudi home.  The dallah's shape is graceful, almost like a female's torso - with a curved bulb shape at the bottom, a narrower waist, and widening again toward the top. It is topped with lid that has a finial for easier handling and on one side the dallah has a curvy handle.  Opposite the handle is the dallah's most distinctive feature which is its exaggerated spout, shaped like a crescent moon or a bird's curved beak.  Dallahs can be made of brass, stainless steel, or or silver, but can also be found made of beautiful high quality plastic.  The beautiful dallah in this photo is made of solid crystal and is just for show.   

SkyWatch: Saudi Hospitality in the Desert

This watermelon vendor sells his fruit off the freeway between Jeddah and Yanbu.  But he has hot water ready on the fire to share tea with customers who have pulled off the road for a rest.

His watermelons were neatly displayed on a tarp on the ground. 

He was literally in the middle of nowhere.  

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Copper Teapot

Copper is my favorite metal, having grown up in Arizona in a copper mining country.  This shiny copper teapot really caught my eye.  The small brass one with the distinctive spout is called Dallah.

Coffee House: Arab Scene with Dallah

This is a very traditional Arab hospitality scene with cushions, Arab architectural design details, and a pretty Dallah teapot.  This was taken inside a traditional Saudi cafe in Jeddah.  Conversation is a very big part of Saudi society, and tea, coffee, and juice are always offered to guests.  Arabic coffee is called "Gahwa," and actually contains very little coffee in it.  One of the main ingredients in Gahwa is cardamom.  Gahwa is traditionally served in very tiny cups without handles.

Today is the first of the month, which means it's theme day for City Daily Photo bloggers.  City Daily Photo is an online community of photo bloggers from around the world,   sharing the wonders of their area of the world pictorially with   others.  Each month there is a different theme that CDP members can   participate in.  This month's theme is "Coffee House."  

Please visit the City Daily Photo portal to view other participants' entries for today's theme day of "Coffee House."

Typical Saudi Welcome Display

When one enters the home of a Saudi family, most often there is a table which bears various items to welcome the guest - decorative items as well as functional, like a tissue box, a hairbrush, a mirror, and sometimes even perfume. 

Entertaining Saudi Style

Saudis seem to prefer the very elegant and the very fancy schmancy things in life.  Their entertaining style is usually quite formal, not casual like in the US where I am from.  Whereas Americans seem to prefer simple backyard barbecues or tailgating parties, Saudis always entertain in style.  Even for family gatherings, the women will dress to the nines and have perfectly coiffed hair and makeup.  Serving pieces are often extravagant, such as this beautiful cobalt blue pitcher and glass set. 

Movenpick Resort on the Red Sea

I don't think I've ever seen another building quite like the Movenpick Resort Hotel of Jeddah.  It is a favorite of photographers in the area for its unusual architectural shape resembling a conch shell.  The resort is quite striking in its location on an island in the Red Sea right off of Jeddah's coastline.  

Typical Saudi Teacup Set

Saudis are very gracious hosts and delight in serving drinks and sweets to house guests.  Alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Saudi Arabia, so drinks served range from the largest variety of fruit juices one could imagine to tea or gahwa (Arabic coffee).  Hot drinks would be served in tiny glasses like shown here.  This teacup set cost 302 SR, or about $ 80 US.