- Title: IRAQ-JUICE SHOP "Trash juice" attracts crowds in Baghdad
- Date: 26th July 2015
- Summary: PICTURE OF THE FOUNDER OF THE JUICE SHOP
- Embargoed: 10th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Iraq
- Country: Iraq
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAC5Y5ZZ3L7FFET328YR4NB76OJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: This small shop might not look like much but Haj Zebala juice shop in an Al-Rasheed street, in the centre of Baghdad, has been attracting generations of Iraqi and Arab customers for decades.
Its name might be misleading as Zebala means "trash" in Arabic. But the small shop that's been in business for more than a century is famed for its raisin juice.
The history of the shop started in 1900, says Mohammed Abdul Ghafur, the shop's owner.
"My grandfather thought of opening raisin juice shop in 1900 in Bab Al Seef area, near the old wooden bridge. Then we moved to Mutanabi Street specifically in Sarray market in 1908, we stayed there for four years. Then we moved to our current location in 1912 and we are still here," Abdul Ghafur said.
Not only ordinary Iraqis frequent the shop, but also Arab presidents and leaders have stopped here to quench their thirst.
"During Saddam Hussein's era, one time he brought Hosni Mubarak to the shop. Apparently Hussein told Mubarak that he wants him to taste a great juice from an established place that he used to drink often from. When they stopped in front of the shop, Mubarak read the name of the store and told Saddam: "What is this? Do you want us to drink 'Trash juice'?" And they both laughed and drank two glasses each," said Abdul Ghafur.
He believes that what distinguish his juice from other raisin juices is the carefully chosen raisins brought from the north of Iraq.
"We bring the best kind of black raisins. They bring it to us from Khushnow, Rania, Dukan and Duhok. Traders get it and contact me that they have the best raisins. I know it so I tell them reserve it all for me even if the price is expensive but I have to please my customers. This is what distinguishes us from the rest of the juice shops," he said.
The shop is one of Baghdad's attractions. Governments and politicians have come and go but the shop remains.
The name of the shop may raise some eyebrows, but the shop's founder named it after his ailing son, who he called 'Zebala'. According to old Iraqi tradition, people believed that naming sick children with an unconventional name would keep away bad spirits and save a life.
The juice shop's name hasn't deterred loyal customers like Abu Mouayad from drinking the freshly made juice here.
"It's been exactly 55 years. Since 1960, count it. How much has it been? We are workers here in Qeshla street. We finish work and come here to have local cheese and the juice. I'm an old customer not a new one," said Abu Mouayad.
In a way, the history of the shop tells a bigger story of the city. The shop used to be open 24/7 and it didn't have a door enticing customers to come in whenever they fancied.
But after the war in 2003 and the the deteriorating security situation in Baghdad, Abdul Ghafur had to install a door and a lock for his shop. Now, customers can get their juice fix here from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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