Gahwa (Emirati Arabic Coffee with Cardamom and Saffron)
Local name: قهوة عربية
In short: Lightly roasted coffee simmered with cardamom and saffron, poured in small amounts into tiny cups and served with dates. It takes about 25 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 25 kcal
Gahwa is the first thing an Emirati host offers a guest. The coffee is roasted pale golden, ground coarsely and simmered with cardamom and a few threads of saffron, then poured into a dallah, the long-spouted pot. Guests receive a small splash in a handleless cup, usually with a date, and shake the cup gently to say they have had enough. The flavor is closer to a light, floral tea than to dark espresso.
Instructions
- Bring the water to a boil in a small pot. Add the coffee, stir once and lower the heat to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer for 10 minutes, skimming off any foam, until the liquid has reduced slightly and smells nutty.
- Add the cardamom, cloves if using, and saffron, and simmer for 3 more minutes.
- Take the pot off the heat and let the grounds settle for 5 minutes.
- Pour through a fine strainer into a warmed thermos or coffee pot, stopping before the sediment goes in.
- Serve in small cups, filling each only one third full, with a date alongside.
Tips
- If you cannot find light-roast Arabic coffee, use the palest coffee beans you can, ground coarse as for a French press. The drink will taste less floral but still pleasant.
- Preheat the thermos with boiling water first. Gahwa is poured in small refills, so it must stay hot to taste its best.
Questions and answers
Is gahwa strong?
The color is pale and the flavor is mild and aromatic, not bitter. Cups are small, so the amount of caffeine per serving is modest.
Why do you shake the cup after drinking gahwa?
Shaking the cup gently from side to side tells the host you have had enough. Otherwise the server keeps refilling it.
Can I make gahwa ahead of time?
Yes. It stays hot in a thermos for 3 to 4 hours, or in the fridge for 2 days. Reheat it gently without letting it boil.
How long does it take to make Gahwa (Emirati Arabic Coffee with Cardamom and Saffron)?
About 25 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Gahwa (Emirati Arabic Coffee with Cardamom and Saffron)?
About 25 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 6 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 25 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 6 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 5 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
