The ‘Year of Saudi Coffee’ initiative made its way to the Saudi Pavilion at Expo 2020. It began holding events, activities, and workshops for visitors of all ages, as well as live performances in the Pavilion’s outdoor courtyard on Tuesday and will continue until January 29.
These events, which several international partners are taking part in, introduce visitors to this important project and the role it will play in highlighting the cultural value of coffee for the Kingdom, where it is considered a major part of Saudi heritage and culture.
Sard Café organized a workshop on preparing Saudi coffee through a detailed practical history, explaining that each region of the Kingdom has its own special preparation method, with preferences ranging from light roasts through the medium and dark coffee, which is popular in the north.
The Saudi Pavilion drew a diverse international crowd when several nations were invited to offer their own coffee next to the Saudi coffee, especially countries that are famous for coffee cultivation, such as Honduras, Australia, Colombia, Panama, Ethiopia, Latvia, Bolivia, Peru and Kenya. They were all introduced to others’ most prominent coffee beans and preparation methods.
A short film about the Year of Saudi Coffee initiative was screened. It introduced visitors to the Saudi people’s relationship with coffee, a symbol of Saudi generosity and hospitality culture and folklore. The first day concluded with performances of the traditional Saudi dance Khbeti and Liwa to welcome the visitors.
There are over 13 different types of Saudi coffee, each of which has its own taste and flavors.
