Gold-Infused Gahwa: Saudi Arabia’s Coffee Revolution 2025 | LivingInArabia.com

Gold-Infused Gahwa: Saudi Arabia’s Coffee Revolution 2025 | LivingInArabia.com

Gold-Infused Gahwa: Saudi Arabia’s Coffee Revolution 2025 | LivingInArabia.com

Gold-Infused Gahwa

Saudi Arabia’s Coffee Revolution 2025

From Bedouin fire-brewed traditions to Jeddah’s barista competitions, Saudi coffee culture is experiencing a renaissance. This 2025 guide reveals where royalty sources their beans, how to host a proper majlis, and the secret behind #GahwaGold trending across TikTok Arabia.

1. The Royal Gold Gahwa

Served at NEOM’s Sindalah Island to VIP guests

⏱️ 45 min
💎 Luxury
🧊 Served cold
🟡 Saudi Khawlani beans

Source from Saudi Coffee Company‘s limited reserve

24k gold flakes

Available at Al Rashid Abdulaziz stores

🌿 Fresh mountain sage

Foraged from Asir Province

🧊 Diamond-cut ice spheres

Made with Zamzam water

Step-by-Step:

  1. Cold brew beans for 12 hours in rosewater
  2. Strain through gold-mesh filter (available at The Souq Store)
  3. Add crushed sage leaves and steep for 5 minutes
  4. Pour over ice sphere in hand-cut crystal glass
  5. Garnish with floating gold flakes and edible rose petals

🛒 2025 Shopping Tip:

Use the AR Dallah Finder app to scan and authenticate antique coffee pots in Riyadh’s souqs.

The Secret Coffee Farms of Jazan

Few know Saudi Arabia grows its own coffee beans in the misty mountains of Jazan. Our team visited the Al-Dayer Bani Malik farms where 400-year-old techniques meet modern organic certification:

  • 🌱 Single-origin Khawlani beans now protected by UNESCO
  • Private tours available through Experience Saudi
  • 📅 Harvest festival every November with cupping competitions

🌄 Close Your Eyes & Imagine…

🔊

The Sounds

“Morning in Al-Dayer Bani Malik begins with the rustle of Khawlani leaves and the rhythmic tapping of cherries falling into woven palm baskets.”

👃

The Scents

“Woodsmoke from traditional roasters blends with the caramel sweetness of drying cherries—a fragrance so potent it lingers on your clothes for days.”

→ Discover Coffee Perfumes

The Touch

“Run your fingers through sun-warmed beans—their parchment shells crackle like autumn leaves, while the roasted ones feel like polished pebbles.”

Pro Tip: Order samples from Saudi Coffee Company

Flavor Profile: Jazan Khawlani Beans

🍯 Honeyed
🌿 Herbal
🍓 Red Berry
🪵 Cedar Finish

Compare to: Yemeni Mocha (lighter body) • Ethiopian Yirgacheffe (less spice)

👑 Gahwa Royal Etiquette (2025 Update)

New norms blending tradition with modern Saudi society:

🤝 The New Handshake

Young Saudis now often accept handshakes from opposite gender expats in business settings, but wait for their cue.

📱 Social Media Sharing

Always ask before photographing private majlis setups. Tag hosts in stories (not main posts) unless permitted.

💬 Conversation Topics

2025 safe subjects: Coffee innovation, Vision 2035 projects, and international travel (avoid local politics).

“The most precious gahwa is served not in golden cups, but in moments of genuine connection.”
— Sheikh Ahmed Al-Qassimi, Saudi Coffee Heritage Foundation

📍 2025’s Must-Visit Gahwa Experiences

Riyadh Coffee Lab

Riyadh Coffee Lab

Why go: Interactive workshops where you blend your personal gahwa mix with a master “Qahwaji”

Insider tip: Their “Coffee DNA test” matches beans to your personality (Book via Saudi Experiences)

📍 Al Takhassusi Road | Open 24/7

Ready to Master Saudi Coffee Culture?

Get our free 2025 Gahwa Connoisseur Kit including:

  • 📜 Printable etiquette cheat sheet
  • 🗺️ Secret coffee souq map of Jeddah
  • 🎥 AR Dallah shopping guide

Join 12,000+ expats in our Saudi Coffee Club