Traditional Arabic beverages in Dubai

In 2015, the custom of making coffee as a type of hospitality in the United Arab Emirates was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Heritage Site. This shows that coffee, locally known as Qahwa, as well as other drinks such as Karak chai, are extremely important to the traditions and daily life of Dubai residents. Let's explore the best traditional drinks to try in Dubai.

What do you find in the article?

• Traditional drinks from the Middle East
• Arab drinks to try in Dubai – list
• Where to try traditional drinks in Dubai
• Culture and tradition of drinks in the United Arab Emirates
• Questions and answers (FAQ)

Traditional drinks from the Middle East

The people of Dubai are a people of the desert, as are the people of Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and many other near-eastern cities. Bedouin culture, closely linked to life in the desert area, has left a unique imprint on the culture and gastronomy of these peoples. Arabian coffee and fresh juices made from local fruits are known throughout the world. For many countries in the region, traditional drinks are common, but Dubai's history has taken a slightly different turn. In this city, drinks are not only Arabic, but also Indian, Pakistani and, less frequently, worldly. Let's take a closer look at what are the most popular Arabic drinks in Dubai.

Arab drinks to try in Dubai – list

What are the traditional drinks in Dubai? From aromatic coffee and date drinks to sweet-spicy tea and fresh juices – these are the cultural beverages of the UAE.

• Arabic coffee
  
   

Arabian coffee, or rather .... qahwa, as it is referred to as coffee in this region of the world. It is prepared from freshly brewed green Arabian coffee beans. The beans are first roasted on a flat pan, then poured into a mortar and crushed with a copper pestle. Then the Arabic coffee is poured into a large copper pot with water and brewed. It is then poured into a smaller vessel and served to guests. The whole process of serving coffee is one of the most important gestures and processes in UAE culture. Coffee is bitter, aromatic and delicious. It can be served with spices, such as cardamom.
 

• Karak Chai
  
   

Karak Chai is an essential for more than half of Dubai's population. It is so common, especially on the streets of Old Dubai, that it can be called the official drink of Dubai. Karak Chai is a tea and a testament to the presence of millions of people from India in the UAE. It is a tea created by boiling together leaf tea, milk and aromatic spices (usually Cardamom, Saffron or others of your choice). Together they create a dessert-like, sweet and spicy aromatic flavour that is stimulating and warming. For many Dubaiites, it is an everyday staple and has accompanied them since they were young. It stimulates like coffee, tastes like dessert, warms like hot chocolate.
 

• Laban
  
   

Laban is a healthy and protein-rich buttermilk-based cooling drink. It is widely drunk throughout the Middle East. It is so nutritious that it is often included in diet plans. Additions such as spices or ground dates can be added to improve the taste.
 

• Fresh juices made from local fruit
  
   

Dubaiis have always loved fresh juices. Merchants used to specialise in selling them to wandering Bedouins. The most popular juices are those made from watermelon, pineapple and papaya, sugar cane, with tamardin and lemon juice, and the classic, world-famous lemonade.
 

• Jellab
  
   

Jellab is a refreshing drink, drunk especially on long summer nights. It consists of a diluted syrup that is made from grape molasses, dates and rose water. It is seasoned with pineapple and sultanas.
 

• Qamar al-Din
  
   

What is Qamar al-Din? Qamar al-Din is a traditional Arabian cuisine drink, also drunk most often during Ramadan by UAE families. It has the consistency of nectar and is made from the skins of apricot fruit.

Where to try traditional drinks in Dubai?

Dubai is full of cafes, tea shops and small venues serving quick drinks. This would be the case with Karak Chai: you can try it from as little as 1 AED at one of the hundreds of small outlets and venues in Old Dubai, and you can sip it with a delicious lunch at Karak House Restaurant, near the Burj Khalifa. Where can you try Arabic coffee in Dubai? You can try the best Arabic coffee, laban and jellab at one of the Arabian Tea House restaurants. It's a chain of pubs scattered around Dubai with traditional Emirati cuisine. We recommend the one in the historic Al Fahidi district the most.

Culture and tradition of drinks in the United Arab Emirates

As you can see, Arabic non-alcoholic drinks in Dubai have been listed. This is due to the fact that drinking alcohol is strictly forbidden in Islam. The people of the desert therefore did not use high percentage drinks, but natural and healthy beverages. Mint tea is just as popular in Dubai, but it was missing from the list. This is due to the fact that it does not originate from the Dubai tradition, although the drink is delicious and widely available in cafes and tea shops in the city.

A staple of UAE beverage culture and tradition is coffee, or qahwa, and karak chai, or tea with milk. Without these two drinks, Dubaiites cannot imagine their daily lives. They are the most important local drinks in the UAE.

Questions and answers (FAQ)

1. What drinks are popular in the United Arab Emirates?

Drinks such as traditional Arabic coffee, otherwise known as qahwa, karak chai, which is tea cooked with milk and spices, fresh fruit juices, Laban based on buttermilk and Jellab made from grapes, dates and rose water, are most popular in the UAE.

2. What are the ingredients of traditional Arabic coffee?

The qahwa, or traditional Arabian coffee, consists of green Arabian coffee beans roasted in a special pot, crushed in a copper mortar and served in special small dishes. Additional ingredients may include cardamom, saffron or other spices.

3. What are the best places for mint tea in Dubai?

Many locations in Dubai offer their customers the popular mint tea, but in our opinion you'll find the best at one of the Arabian Tea House locations, a restaurant with traditional Emirati food. It will taste best at a venue in Old Dubai, in the historic Al Fahidi district.

A delicious traditional drink should be matched with a nutritious meal - preferably with healthy ingredients. When deciding where to dine, this guide to restaurants with healthy food in Dubai will help you.