The History of Coffee From Yemen to the World | Mokhtar Alkhanshali

About this episode

Mokhtar Alkhanshali explores the rich history and cultural significance of coffee in the Arab world.

"Devil's Brew", spiritual drink, a scholarly beverage, an evil concoction — coffee in the Arab world has gone by many names. In this episode of Matbakh, Mokhtar Alkhanshali takes us on a journey through the history of the drink that defines many of our mornings. From its etymology to the spiritual culture behind its preparation and consumption, and why it was denounced and banned at certain points, this episode will give context to history nerds and coffee-lovers alike. Mokhtar maps the socio-economic background of coffee, its links to slavery and colonialism, and how it appears in literature from the region.

People in this episode

Guest: Mokhtar Alkhanshali

Topics covered

• history of coffee
• Arab culture
• socio-economic impact
• colonialism
• spirituality

Keywords

• coffee
• Yemen
• history
• colonialism
• spiritual drink
• socio-economic background
• literature

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