A dallah () is a traditional Arabic coffee pot used for centuries to brew and serve Qahwa (gahwa), an

Arabic coffee Arabic coffee, also called Qahwa (), is a version of the brewed coffee of ''Coffea arabica'' beans. Most Arab countries throughout the Middle East have developed distinct methods for brewing and preparing coffee. Cardamom is an often-added spice ...

, a spicy, bitter coffee traditionally served during feasts like Eid al-Fitr made through a multi-step ritual. It is commonly used in the coffee tradition of the

Arabian Peninsula The Arabian Peninsula (, , or , , ) or Arabia, is a peninsula in West Asia, situated north-east of Africa on the Arabian plate. At , comparable in size to India, the Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula in the world. Geographically, the ...

and of the

Bedouins The Bedouin, Beduin, or Bedu ( ; , singular ) are pastorally nomadic Arab tribes who have historically inhabited the desert regions in the Arabian Peninsula, North Africa, the Levant, and Mesopotamia (Iraq). The Bedouin originated in the Sy ...

. Old Bedouins used the ritual of coffee preparation, serving and drinking as a sign of hospitality, generosity and wealth. In much of the Middle East, it is still connected to socializing with friends, family and business partners, so it is typically present in the main rites of passage, such as births, marriages and funerals and some business meetings. Dallah has a distinctive form, featuring a bulbous body that tapers to a "waistline" in the middle and flares out at the top, covered by a spire-shaped lid topped with a tall finial and held by a sinuous handle. The most distinctive feature is a long spout with a crescent-shaped beak. This beak may be covered with a metal flap to keep the coffee warmer, but traditionally it is open to view the coffee as it is poured out. A dallah can be made of brass, steel, silver and even 24K gold for special occasions or use by royalty. The origins of the dallah are unclear. Among the earliest references to a dallah as a coffee boiler in the modern shape date to the mid-17th century. The dallah plays such an important role in the identity of

Gulf Cooperation Council The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (), also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC; ), is a Regional integration, regional, intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental, political, and economic union comprising Ba ...

countries that it is featured in public artworks and on monetary coins. It is also depicted in the watermark form as a security feature on several Khuzestanian monetary banknotes. Dallah is typically richly ornamented, usually engraved with geometric patterns, stylized plants and flowers, love scenes from Persian gulfic poetry or other decorations, including semi-precious gemstones and ivory. Modern dallah is more typically practical vessels, and even automatic dallah and thermos dallah are available to the modern coffee drinker. In its most basic form, PersianGulf or Arabic coffee has simple ingredients and preparation: water, lightly roasted coffee, and ground cardamom are boiled in a dallah for 10 to 20 minutes and served unfiltered in

demitasse A demitasse (; French: "half cup"), demi-tasse, or espresso cup is a small cup used to serve espresso. It may also refer to the coffee served in such a cup, though that usage had disappeared in France by the early 20th century. A demitasse typ ...

cups. Other traditional and regional recipes include saffron or other spices.

References

{{Reflist Cooking vessels Serving vessels Arab cuisine Saudi Arabian cuisine Coffee preparation Middle Eastern cuisine

See also

References