Majlis Hospitality · Cardamom Coffee
Gahwa
Photo: Pshahma / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
It's brewed pale gold, not black — unsweetened, spiced with cardamom, and traditionally poured only a third full so the host can keep offering refills.
Gahwa is Arabic coffee lightly roasted and brewed with cardamom, served from a long-spouted brass dallah pot into small handleless cups, almost always alongside dates. It's the centerpiece of the Emirati majlis (sitting room) welcome and also appears at markets and cultural stalls.
Why it's made this way: Serving gahwa to a guest is a core act of Emirati hospitality, and the ritual of the dallah pot and the third-full cup remains a point of deep cultural pride.
More from United Arab Emirates
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