Arabic coffee: the first is “Haif” and the last is “Sif”
Photography: Ashok Verma
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Arabic coffee is linked to the cultural heritage of the UAE, and despite its different taste and color according to its ingredients and preparation methods, in most Arab and Gulf countries it shares its distinguished position and the rituals of its presentation, having become a symbol of generosity, welcome, strengthening social ties, and an address for hospitality. The permanent Arabic coffee on all private and public occasions is the best evidence of its great position locally and in the Arab community.
On the first of October of each year, the world celebrates the "International Coffee Day", where the Sharjah Institute for Heritage organized a celebration in which makers, lovers and lovers of Arabic and contemporary coffee gathered, to present the different rituals between Arabic coffee and contemporary coffee, in the methods of preparation and the tools used during their preparation, and the flavors that They are added, such as: cardamom, screw and saffron, pampers of different types and sizes and the cups used to serve them, favorite sweets when drinking coffee, and the most important customs, traditions and etiquette that are followed when serving Arabic coffee, which differs from serving contemporary coffee.
The coffee cups, when presented, had four names among the ancient Arabs, and some were said to have five.
The first cup is the “Al-Haif”, which is drunk by the bachelor or the host, so that he himself can test its quality before serving it to his guest, and to ensure that his guest is safe from his coffee being poisoned.
The second cup is the “guest”, and it is the first cup that is presented to the guest, which is the duty of hospitality, and the guest was old in the desert forced to drink it except in the event of enmity, or the guest had a difficult and strong request with the host, so he did not drink it until after a promise from the host or Al-Mazab by Talbiyah.
The third cup is the “kef”, meaning “mood”, and it is the second cup that is presented to the guest, and he is not forced to drink it and it does not harm the host if the guest does not drink it, but it is merely to improve the mood of the guest, and it is the least powerful and influential among the Arabs.
The fourth cup is the “sword”, and it is the third cup that is presented to the guest, and this cup is often left by the guest and does not drink because it is the strongest cup.
Whoever drinks it becomes obliged from that hour to be with the host in thick and thin, and compelled to defend him with the edge of the sword, and his partner in war and peace is hostile to those who are hostile to him and ally himself with his allies. from him.
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