Arabic coffee divide.

Coffee drinkers in the United Arab Emirates say the nation’s traditional beverage is losing out to coffee from overseas markets. While consumers said the Arabic coffee, flavoured with cardamom and served with dates, is important to their heritage, it does not offer the variety of flavours and beverage styles of its Western counterparts.

Marketing and atmosphere also seem to be key considerations, with customers appreciating the privacy and appealing designs in modern coffee outlets. Traditional Arabic coffee shops are noisy, and often a venue for shisha tobacco to be smoked.

Consumers point to a need for establishments that serve modern and traditional styles of coffee. Local coffee shops have indicated this may be a possibility, with one international chain offering date flavoured coffees in their Middle Eastern stores in response to demand during Ramadan.



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