Here is a little contribution to the understanding of Eritrea’s culture, traditions, and customs—the nation at the core of the Smile Project initiatives. We will be discussing coffee, the traditional beverage for special occasions, social gatherings, and even to enjoy on small breaks.
Those who collaborate and support the Smile Project know that Eritrea is a country in Africa, but few know its customs and culture. Smile means smile, and we have decided to introduce you to the beautiful and “smiling” part of Eritrea, not just its geographical position.
Food is an important part of the culture in every country and often one of the most enjoyable parts. So, let’s start with coffee, rather the Coffee Ceremony, a custom linked to Arab influence that is very widespread in Eritrea. It is a typical ritual of Eritrean hospitality and represents a time of celebration, friendship, and sharing.
During the ceremony, the coffee beans are roasted on a special brazier and then ground with a pestle in a wooden mortar, the moket-bun. Smelling the aromatic smoke of roasting is part of the ceremony’s pleasures and rituals. The ground coffee is then boiled in the jabena, a pot-bellied ceramic vessel with a long neck and a spout. When the coffee reaches a boil, it is poured into a cup and then put back into the coffee pot for a second boil. Finally, the hostess pours the coffee into the cups (without handles) with slow gestures so that the powder settles on the bottom and does not come out of the spout and go into the cups.
As you can imagine, the times of this custom are very slow, and the coffee ceremony can last up to two hours; after the long preparation, the coffee is served three times: the first round, stronger, is called awel, the second kale’i and the third bereka, which means blessed.
Incense and aromatic woods, whose scent blends with that of coffee, can be burned during the ceremony. An interesting fact: Eritrean coffee is frequently served with popcorn.
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