 Global citizens Spending time in Dubai always deepens my awareness of the wider world around me.
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| 1) Dubai is recognized as one of the fastest-progressing cities in the world 2) Dubai is constantly changing 3) Dubai is easy to get around 4) Dubai is a very safe place 5) Dubai's income tax rate is zero 6) Dubai has 350 sunny days per year 7) Dubai always has something going on! | |
The United Arab Emirates
Dubai is both a city and emirate (state) within the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE is a nation in the Middle East situated on the eastern end of the Arabian Peninsula, and Dubai is its largest and most populous city. Once a small fishing village, today Dubai is one of the wealthiest and most developed cities in the world!
Out of the 3.6 million people that live in Dubai more than 90% are expatriates, making it a truly international city. This makes a unique blend of cultures that includes more than 200 nationalities, a rich blend of traditions and experiences. And although Arabic is the official U.A.E. language, English is most commonly spoken in Dubai.
In 2023, Dubai was the third most visited city in the world, making the Dubai International Airport the world's busiest ! Tourists enjoy Dubai's gorgeous beaches, extravagant shopping, year-round sunshine, and super low crime rate. Dubai is undoubtedly one of the most unique cities in the world.
| After two years of hard work, I am proud to announce that my book "The Big Buna Bash" is available at most major bookstore chains in the U.A.E. You can also find it in online stores such as Amazon.ae, Gulf News Store, Virgin Megastore and Books Arabia!  Thank you Motivate for motivating me! |  |
In Ethiopia, coffee is a way of life! Ethiopians have been drinking coffee from the earliest times. But they aren't the only place with a strong coffee culture. All over the globe, coffee-lovers are consuming and preparing coffee in different ways!
For instance, Italy gave the world the terms that have become universal in coffee ordering:
americano
cappuccino
espresso
latte
macchiato
mocha
latte
Italy also has some of the oldest operating cafes in the world.
The Netherlands boasts "koffie verkeert" or "coffee wrong", a cafe au lait served in a glass cup.
Dutch coffee: cafe au lait
Vietnamese coffee is made in a personal drip pot and served with sweetened condensed milk.
Coffee in Vietnam
In Australia, quality wins over quantity! The Austrailian silky shiny latte makes coffee-making an art with perfectly frothed milk. Starbucks didn't survive for long in Australia!
Smooth Austrailian coffee
In India, coffee culture is a relatively new thing! The Indians usually drank their coffee with milk so the quality of the coffee wasn't so important, as the milk masqued it's flavor. Indains start their day with a big tumbler of strong filter coffee with boiled milk and sugar added.
Strong Indian coffee
In Turkey, coffee grounds are boiled and served black and bubbly in ornate cups!
Turkish Coffee
Cuba has "Cortodito", a sweetened espresso with seamed milk.
Coffee in Cuba
Korean coffee consumption is on the rise! Coffee didn't arrive there until 1896 when King Gojong first tried it and spread the word. A popular coffee in Korea is called "Dalgona", a cold latte with a sweet, bitter coffee foam on top.
Korean "Dalgona" coffee with candy on top
Here is a collection of artwork depicting the Ethiopian buna coffee ceremony. I regret that I can't give credit to the artists as I don't know their sources.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Teff .....the new super food
Most of the world's Teff is cultivated in Eastern Africa Teff is the main ingredient for preparing injera, the popular Ethiopian fermented flatbread. It is a healthy wheat alternative that is high in resistant starch, a newly-discovered type of dietary fiber that can benefit blood sugar, colon health and weight loss.
Teff is an ancient species of grass native to Ethiopian/Eritrea, that is cultivated for it's edible seed and usually made into flour. These seeds are about the size of a poppy seed but are packed full of fiber and calcium.
Most Teff is grown in Eastern Africa, but the State of Idaho produces some of the best quality Teff in the world!
Teff Seed Bread
Author: Chef Christina Murray
Serves: 2 loaves
Ingredients
Instructions
Teff is an ancient species of grass native to Ethiopian/Eritrea, that is cultivated for it's edible seed and usually made into flour. These seeds are about the size of a poppy seed but are packed full of fiber and calcium.
Most Teff is grown in Eastern Africa, but the State of Idaho produces some of the best quality Teff in the world!
Teff Seed Bread
Author: Chef Christina Murray
Serves: 2 loaves
Ingredients
- 2 cups unsalted sunflower seeds (see note)
- ½ cup unsalted pistachios (see note)
- 2 cups gluten-free oats
- 2 cups hemp hearts
- ½ cup chia seeds
- ½ cup roasted sesame seeds
- ½ cup Maskal Teff® ivory flour
- ½ cup Maskal Teff® brown flour
- 2 tablespoons golden flaxseed, ground
- 2 ¼ teaspoons salt (see note)
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 ½ cup water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Spread sunflower seeds and pistachios evenly on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or until golden and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, hemp hearts, chia seed, sesame seeds, teff flours, and golden flax. Add cooled, toasted sunflower seeds and pistachios and salt.
- In a separate container mix together olive oil, maple syrup, and water.
- Gradually drizzle the liquid over the dry ingredients. Gently fold until well combined.
- Divide between 2 parchment-lined loaf pans, and place both on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 30 minutes and then gently flip loaves out onto the baking sheet.
- Bake for another 25-35 minutes or until golden brown. Best stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator or freezer, for optimal freshness.
The Eritrean jebena without a spout A jebena is the elegant Ethiopian/Eritrean coffee pot that makes and serves coffee in the traditional buna ceremony (in Eritrea it's bun).
The Jebena is usually made out of clay, wide-bottomed with a long, narrow neck and a handle where the neck connects with the base.
The Ethiopian jebena has a pouring spout while the Eritrean variety pours from the opening on the top.
When the coffee boils up through the jebena's neck, it is poured in and out of another container to cool it. The liquid is then poured back into the jebena until it bubbles up.
When the coffee is poured, a strainer, often made of horsehair, is put inside the neck to keep the coffee grounds from escaping.
The result is dark, somewhat bitter, piping hot coffee. And, remember, jebena buna is never drunk alone!
The Jebena is usually made out of clay, wide-bottomed with a long, narrow neck and a handle where the neck connects with the base.
The Ethiopian jebena has a pouring spout while the Eritrean variety pours from the opening on the top.
When the coffee boils up through the jebena's neck, it is poured in and out of another container to cool it. The liquid is then poured back into the jebena until it bubbles up.
When the coffee is poured, a strainer, often made of horsehair, is put inside the neck to keep the coffee grounds from escaping.
The result is dark, somewhat bitter, piping hot coffee. And, remember, jebena buna is never drunk alone!
Author
In Dubai you can meet the world! This multinational cosmopolitan hub is known for its modern infrastructure, luxury lifestyle, and diverse population. In short, incredible energy!
On this page I'll share my own personal journey in discovering this fascinating city.
And, if you scroll down a bit, you'll learn lots about Ethiopian culture!
Sara Arnold: author of
The Big Buna Bash
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