Time: 5 min | Complexity: Easy | Yields: 3-4 servings |
Tools: 1-quart saucepan

I first had this warm drink right after I had arrived in Saudi. I had gotten a cold and my mother in law made me a flask. Zanjabel is what all Gulf Arabs use to cure a common cold or flu. Zanjabel means ginger in Arabic and as we all know all over the world ginger is a great cure for many things. In Saudi this recipe is made using only water however in countries such as Bahrain and Oman they use milk which I prefer. You can use sugar or honey to sweeten the drink if you would like. Honey is much better as it has many natural cures as well. Both ginger and honey have great medical uses in Islam.

Time: 10 min | Complexity: Medium
Tools: 1 jar, 1 coal

MY husbands grandmother is in town as of now and like most older people she is very set in her own ways of what she likes to eat. She lives in the Southern region of Saudi Arabia where they eat very simple foods such as fruits, aseeda, dates and drinks like laban. We went to a local Yemeni restaurant that has the same old traditional foods that she likes and bought her a few things. One drink that we bought for her was smoked laban. A southern favorite here in Saudi. The smoked laban was amazing so smooth with the perfect smokiness. I fell in love right away with the drink and asked my mother in law how to make it, the how to was quite easy so I knew I had to share it.

The laban is smoked using an Arabic coal that is used for bukhoor or the shisha. This is the same coal used in smoking food as I have previously showed you. I prefer to buy the smokeless coals. You can order these online or visit a Middle Eastern store to buy a box. They are pretty cheap. You can use as much as you would like to make in the below recipes its really up to you. You need to have everything ready to make the smoked laban because you will need to work fast.

Time: 10 min | Complexity: Easy | Yields: 6-8 servings |
Tools: 4-quart saucepan, tea cups, strainer

ZA'TAR is an herb similar to oregano which is popular throughout the Middle East and North Africa. This herb is believed to a remedy for stomach aches and indigestion. Za'tar is soaked in hot water to make the tea and can be served with or without sugar. Add 1 tablespoon of za'tar per every 3 cups of water.

Time: 10 min | Complexity: Easy | Yields: 6-8 servings |
Tools: 4-quart saucepan, flask, strainer, fanajeen

WHILE Al-Qahwa is a symbol of hospitality throughout the Arabian world, in the Arabian Gulf hospitality is incomplete without Al-Qahwa. It is served day and night, at all social gatherings, offices, parties, weddings and condolence visits. Anything sweet such as dates are served with the coffee.

Al-Qahwa is served by a moqahwai or by the youngest person at the gathering, or perhaps by the host, depending on the occasion and the social rank of the host. The server should always hold the dullah with his left hand and the fanajeen stacked in his right. Using the left hand to deliver or receive at item is considered bad manners. Serving should always start with the guest of honor or the person highest of rank and age of the people present. It is a sign of respect to be offered the first finjan and a nice gesture to offer the cup to the next in rank or the eldest. When serving you should pour enough coffee to fill the cup slightly more than one third, but definitely less than half as over filling indicates that the server is not hospitable and would like the guest to leave as quickly as possible.

This is my mother in laws recipe so it as authentic as it gets. Saudi coffee which is also known as Arabic gulf coffee is made with green coffee beans which just mean they have been lightly roasted. You can grind them at home but I have mine ground fresh at the store.