Coffee is more than merely a drink; in Jordan, it is surrounded by custom and treated with reverence. It is not only a symbol of hospitality and trust, it is a traditional sign of respect and a way to bring people together. Black, cardamom-flavored Arabic coffee, also known as “qahwa sadad”, is deeply ingrained in Jordanian culture. Serving coffee to guests is a large part of the Hashemite Kingdom’s warm hospitality.
Jordanian coffee, or “Al-Qahwa”, is made from coffee beans roasted very lightly or heavily from 165°C to 210°C and cardamom, and is a traditional beverage in Arabian culture. Traditionally, it is roasted on the premises (at home or for special occasions), ground, brewed, and served in front of guests. It is often served with dates or candied fruit. It is served from a special coffee pot called “dallah” and the coffee cups are small with no handle called “fenjan”. The portions are small, covering just the bottom of the cup. It is usually accompanied by dates. It is always offered with the compliments of the house. It is also offered at most social events like weddings and funerals.
In Bedouin culture, where the mark of a man is how he treats his guests, and where what is unsaid has as much (or more) resonance than what is said, coffee plays a hugely significant symbolic role.
In some areas, merely starting to make coffee is a signal to families in neighboring tents that something is afoot: by pounding freshly roasted beans in a “mihbash” – a form of pestle and mortar, sometimes wood. Sometimes, metal – using a distinctive rattling or jangling sound, a man (it’s always a man) can send out a wordless invitation from his tent for all within earshot to gather round. He brews the coffee with cardamom in a dalleh, a long-spouted pot set in the embers, and then serves it to everyone present in tiny thimble-sized cups, always beginning with the guest of honor and proceeding clockwise around the circle. The first cup is known as “le’Dhayf” (for the guest), to indicate hospitality. The second is “lel’kayf” (for the mood), to indicate a relaxed atmosphere. The third is “l’ssayf” (for the sword) to show that any animosity has evaporated. Then, and only then, can the social interaction or discussion begin.