Qishr is a traditional Yemeni drink that took its birth in Yemen back in the ancient times. It is a palatable infusion of spiced coffee husk, ginger, sugar and a hint of cinnamon. This ginger coffee is a favourite among Yemeni people and it is said that they cannot go a day without getting a rejuvenating sip of it. In Yemen, the locals prefer drinking qishr over coffee and consider it an ideal alternative to coffee because it doesn't need to be roasted. Quishr has a long history and somewhat unclear origins. The drink was invented when Coffee arrived in Yemen from across the Red Sea into the Arabian Peninsula. At first, Yemenis made wine from the pulp of the fermented coffee berries.
Soon after, through lots of trial and error, they created this beverage and named it Qishr. Muslim dervishes generally relished it during religious ceremonies in the old days. It is an ancient tradition in Yemen to wholeheartedly welcome their guests with a soothing glass of Qishr as a gesture of hospitality. Any guest is not allowed to leave home without savouring a soothing cup of Qishr. The generous offering of food to guests is one of the customs in Yemeni culture, and a guest not accepting the offering is considered an insult. This tradition is religiously followed by locals even today. Qishr is full of healing properties and is drunk for therapeutic purposes. The aromatic flavours of ginger and cinnamon are complemented by the rich taste of coffee, bringing in just the right kick to it. If you wish to try this drink at home, here are some steps you need to follow.
Ingredients-
- A tablespoon of freshly grated ginger
- Hint of cinnamon
- 1 cup water
- 1 tablespoon of ground coffee
- Sugar as per taste
Steps in the making-
- Take a saucepan and add water to it. Mix it with ginger, cinnamon, coffee and sugar.
- Let all the water dissolve all the ingredients and then transfer the mixture into a glass.
- Gently mix and stir well.
- Sprinkle extra cinnamon over the top.
- There you go; your drink is ready to serve and relish.
We hope you have a delightful experience sipping on this drink.