Kuwait - Sunset in Desert over Arabic Coffee Pot (Dallah) - The tradition of Arabic coffee

The traditional Kuwaiti way to make Arabic coffee (Gahwah) was to roast the beans on an open fire in a Mahmas, which is a long spoon-like iron skillet. After the beans were roasted to an even-brownish color, they were moved to the Mahbash. The Mahbash is a wooden bowl-type grinding device with a hole in the top. A wooden stick would be placed through the hole to pound in an upward motion; grinding the beans along with cardamom. The mixture would then be boiled with water in a metal pot called a Delah, which also functions as the serving pot. Inside the long narrow spout of the delah would sit a piece of fiberous bark taken from the stem of the palm tree. The fiber would serve as a strainer for each individual cup of the yellowish-brown colored coffee when poured in the small cups known as Finjal.

Today, however, you'd be hard pressed to find a Kuwaiti who roasts his own coffee beans. Locals prefer to buy the beans already finely roasted but many still buy their cardamom separately and ground it together with the coffee at home according to their own personal tastes. The Delah is still used but without the natural fiber filter which has been passed up for the metal mesh version, not unlike a typical drip coffee reusable filter. The Finjal is still the cup of choice for the highly concentrated coffee which must be sipped from tiny cups rather than the grand sizes preferred by today's Starbucks fans.

Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Lens's focal length: 70.00 - 200.00 mm, Photo Focal length: 127.00 mm, Aperture: 4.0, Exposure time: 1/80 s, ISO: 100

All rights reserved - Copyright © Lucie Debelkova

All images are exclusive property and may not be copied, downloaded, reproduced, transmitted, manipulated or used in any way without expressed, written permission of the photographer.

Comments and faves

  1. nur-u ay, sara zollino, storvandre, blve_16, and 194 other people added this photo to their favorites.

  2. MAS00D (31 months ago | reply)

    Very nice, You can be found like a dot by the reflection of light on the Pot!

  3. BarniOnlain (31 months ago | reply)

    wonderful shot, lucie!

  4. Cretanseagull (31 months ago | reply)

    Nominated

    I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
    National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

  5. ☆Mi☺Λmor☆ (31 months ago | reply)

    :) yeah but this does taste far better then the coffee in starbucks at times :)

    nice work Lucie

  6. Mangini Adalberto & Laura (31 months ago | reply)

    amazing dof and lights!

  7. robinngeorge (31 months ago | reply)

    lovely shot

  8. [My]iechi (31 months ago | reply)

    like this

  9. ivan.pertica (31 months ago | reply)

    Great idea and perfect realisation!

  10. Dаиgәrоus ßeautу ❥ [deleted] (31 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful ! mshallah '

  11. koen_photos (31 months ago | reply)

    Very nice composition
    beautiful and verywell done

  12. Cristo Bolaños (31 months ago | reply)

    It's really wonderfould.
    When I look at this image, I feel the need to travel to desert.

  13. Debbini (31 months ago | reply)

    very clear and sharp, love it

  14. JaZ99wro (31 months ago | reply)

    Nominated

    I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
    National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

  15. Helgi Halldórsson/Freddi (31 months ago | reply)

    Nominated

    I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
    National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

  16. Marsup' / Back on flickr! (31 months ago | reply)

    Nominated

    I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
    National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

  17. ARASH ALIAHMADI (31 months ago | reply)

    nice shot ,too smooth and feeling.

  18. *SUNYAH* (31 months ago | reply)

    Mh....yummy :)))

  19. *MasteR* (31 months ago | reply)

    So calming colors...

  20. Suh@il - PPA's Exhibition at LHR in JUL12. (31 months ago | reply)

    Reminds me 'The Magic Lamp' ... :) , but its not lamp.

    Lovely sunset in the b.g.

  21. jomak14 (31 months ago | reply)

    This is such a gorgeous shot in so may ways! The dof is spot-on, the bokeh'd sunset in muted tones and the reflections off the coffee pot all add up to a visual delight!
    --
    Seen in my contacts' photos. ( ?² )

  22. Domi Rolland  (31 months ago | reply)

    J aime beaucoup

    Très belle et jolie

    *** Merci ***

    Domi

  23. Jensje (31 months ago | reply)

    Very nice setting! Basic daily life element and nicely coloured.
    This shot almost want to invite me to have a traditional coffee in the desert during sunrise ;)

  24. Roy G. (31 months ago | reply)

    very cool and good composed picture! Thanks for sharing!

    --
    Seen in some comments. (?)

  25. burningphoenix (31 months ago | reply)

    Very nice picture, great subject and composition.

  26. Mouradian (31 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called AT YOUR BEST - Admin. Invite , 2 comments , and we'd love to have this added to the group!

    love Arabic coffee and this photo

  27. SeeHour (31 months ago | reply)

    Nominated

    I pick this photograph to be on the cover of National Geographic
    National Geographic: Are You Good Enough?

  28. dedecay (31 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful atmosphere.

  29. zedith (31 months ago | reply)

    Wow, simply great! What a nice creation; love it :)

  30. stella-mia (31 months ago | reply)

    great shot! Bravo!

  31. Little Nora (31 months ago | reply)

    Simple & beautiful ...

  32. OceanAir55 (31 months ago | reply)

    it tells the story of Aladdin! great feeling!

  33. isa_per (31 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful shot!

  34. Jungleboy* (31 months ago | reply)

    nice smooth bokeh!

  35. JJD.Photography (31 months ago | reply)

    Awesome composition!

  36. mariedoucet (31 months ago | reply)

    Hi, I'm an admin for a group called *absolutely beautiful-absolutamente bello*post 1 comment1, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

  37. Michel-A. (31 months ago | reply)

    Beautiful composition .

  38. luisAfonso (31 months ago | reply)

    I'll take a cup of that coffee if you don't mind. :)
    Nice one!

  39. fuzzball5 (31 months ago | reply)

    Beautiful depth of field and, as always, appreciate the story behind.

  40. Andoni Lamborena (31 months ago | reply)

    Wonderful shot!

  41. "Anwaar (31 months ago | reply)

    gorgeous! :)

  42. Suhibani (31 months ago | reply)

    this is my weakness =(

  43. Michael--B [deleted] (31 months ago | reply)

    Fantastic shot!

  44. MadVette (31 months ago | reply)

    very beautiful,

  45. ~*~ NajdYaaa ~*~ [deleted] (31 months ago | reply)

    I love this!!
    your middle east photos are A-Mazing !!!!

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