Bedouin Coffee Customs and Traditional Storytelling
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Description

In Bedouin culture, coffee is about so much more than just the drink itself. Coffee is a key part of Bedouin heritage and it lies at the centre of some of the most important customs and rituals in Bedouin life. For the Bedu, coffee is primarily an expression of hospitality, and it is also a form of communication, love, cooperation, and authenticity.

There is an elaborate process to making and drinking coffee, which you will learn during this wonderful experience. The process begins with roasting green coffee beans, grinding them, and then boiling them with cardamom in the traditional Bedouin preparation. A metal pestle and mortar are used to grind the coffee, which produces a ringing sound when it is pounded. This ringing in different rhythms was a way to send out messages, including who is hosting that evening. Three cups of coffee are offered to guests, each of which has a symbolic meaning. Coffee has so many connotations associated with it. For example, serving the coffee with the right or the left hand has specific meanings, as does whether the guest drinks or refuses it, and many more.

Join the women of Disi cooperative to experience true desert hospitality and to discover more about the fascinating local coffee customs and rituals. As you drink your coffee, a storyteller will regale you with tales of the desert.

 

 

Distinctive value

Traditionally the men would prepare and serve the coffee, but today often the women prepare it. In this experience, the women of Disi will present you with the full coffee ritual using authentic Bedouin coffee making equipment. Some of the coffee rituals are still used today for important events, such as asking for a woman’s hand in marriage or making a request to a family. And of course, coffee is still used to welcome guests and show them hospitality. Your storyteller has deep knowledge of local stories and will share these in the traditional way.

 

 

Activities
  • Begin at the Disi Women's Cooperative or convene at a location overlooking the mountains of Rum during sunset time.
  • A Bedouin lady will prepare a bonfire, roast the coffee beans, grind them, and add traditional spices.
  • Guests are taught the steps to prepare it themselves.
  • Coffee is served, and a Bedouin woman will join the group to tell local stories that will strengthen the visitors’ connection with the place - with English translation.