Meeting place for social gatherings
After coffee was introduced in the 16th century, it quickly established itself as a fixture in social life. Coffee houses became gathering places for convivial get-togethers, storytelling, music, and smoking. Many men—and only they are permitted—still meet there today. A café
It can be a meeting place for both homesick locals and intellectuals. There are even cafes specifically for musicians.
A café is usually found near a small square in the side streets of lively neighborhoods. A tree or grapevine provides shade. The owner's personal taste is expressed in the simple decor, often richly adorned with calligraphy and patterned tiles. The floor in
The exterior is sprinkled with water to bind the dust. Inside, dirt and spilled drinks are absorbed with sawdust, which is usually swept away and replaced regularly.
An intricately crafted sarabatina, a type of samovar, occupies a place of honor on the counter. Behind it, various water pipes are lined up. After a visit to the neighboring hairdresser, the regular customer enjoys his pipe and peruses the gossip columns in the newspaper.
However, tea, introduced in the 19th century, has long since surpassed coffee in popularity. When prepared correctly, it's a panacea, even on the hottest, dustiest, and most stressful days. The strong Egyptian variety of tea, however, takes some getting used to.
Since mostly cheap tea powder is used, don't expect a delicious aroma. The tea is meant to be invigorating and is therefore drunk strong and sweet. It's best to follow this local custom, as it's hardly palatable without sugar. Or you could try a tea with mint – Chai bina'na.
Red hibiscus tea – karkadee – is a specialty in Aswan and is served hot or cold. Anise tea – jansun – soothes the stomach. In winter, the most popular drink is sakhlab, a steaming, creamy beverage brewed from the root of the orchid and garnished with chopped nuts. In summer, refreshing drinks such as lime juice – laymun – tamarind juice – tamrahindi – and other fruit juices are available. Soft drinks are also, of course, readily available.
A visit to an Egyptian café wouldn't be complete without smoking a water pipe – the shisha. It provides a cool, sweet, and light tobacco flavor. Its bubbling sound is calming. The water pipe is a tool for meditation and should be enjoyed in a relaxed manner. Two tobacco blends are used: Ma'assil, a sticky mixture of crushed leaves fermented with molasses, and Tumbak, a loose, dry tobacco that is wrapped with a whole leaf and rolled into a cone.
In every café, you can pass the time playing card games (kutchina), backgammon (taula), dominoes, or checkers. The best time to visit a café is in the afternoon or evening. Why not try it yourself and enjoy the oriental flair of your host country!
