RIYADH: The northern city of Hail in Saudi Arabia has been crafting a specific type of Arabic coffee pot known as the Quraishyyat for hundreds of years.
This distinctive vessel features a longer neck and a slimmer body than the typical receptacle, and was traditionally reserved only for special occasions.
“Al-Quraishyyat is a coffee pot made of green and yellow copper and has several names such as the palace coffee pot, the khateeb coffee pot, or Hail’s Quraishyyat,” Hamid Al-Dhuwaili, owner of Al-Dhuwaili Heritage Museum in Hail, told Arab News.
He explained that making such coffee pots had been part of the culture in Hail for hundreds of years, and added: “People have practiced this craft since ancient times, before the founding of the First Saudi State. There are well-known craftsmen in Hail who excel in this industry. Currently Hail is home to a coffee pot factory considered one of the best in the Middle East.”
While other handicrafts, including carving, tent making and weaving, are also native to Hail, it is its coffee pots that most visitors and tourists find attractive.
Thanks to its cool weather, rocky landscape and groundwater resources, Hail was one of the main stopping points for traveling merchants and migrants.
It was a resting point for travelers to feed their cattle, which fostered a culture of hospitality among the people of Hail. Coffee has been a significant part of that culture for centuries.
Along with the Quraishyyat, there are other kinds of coffee pots that are also prominent in the city, including the Baghdadiyyat, which is believed to have been introduced by travelers from the Iraqi capital.
Another variation is the Raslan, which consists of pots of different sizes. The Raslan is believed to have been brought to Hail through merchants from the Levant region.
The crafting of coffee pots in Hail has been significant throughout its history as a trading post, and remains so today as the tradition welcomes visitors from near and far.
