🇦🇪 Emirati Cuisine

Gahwa Arabiya

Emirati Arabic Coffee

Prep Time 15 min

Servings 6

Difficulty Easy

Pale golden coffee infused with cardamom and saffron, served in tiny handleless cups alongside dates. The ultimate symbol of Emirati hospitality and generosity.

Ingredients

3 tbsp lightly roasted Arabic coffee beans, ground coarse
3 cups water
1 tbsp ground cardamom
Pinch of saffron
Pinch of cloves (optional)
Dates for serving

Instructions

1 Bring water to a boil in a dallah or small pot.
2 Add the coarsely ground coffee and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
3 Remove from heat and add cardamom, saffron, and cloves. Let steep 5 minutes.
4 Strain or allow grounds to settle. Pour into a clean dallah.
5 Serve in small finjaan cups, filling only one-third full. Always serve with dates.

Did You Know?

In Emirati culture, shaking your finjaan side to side signals you've had enough coffee — setting it down means you'd like a refill.