- Title: RELIGION/RAMADAN-LEBANON Lebanese quench their Ramadan thirst on natural drinks
- Date: 6th July 2015
- Summary: VARIOUS OF FRAME ON THE WALL AT THE SHOP SHOWING PHOTO DATING BACK FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE SHOP
- Embargoed: 21st July 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Lebanon
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA6ANNMG2PZC1G0PCPVB4FU3CXH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The holy month of Ramadan is a busy time for juice making shops in Lebanon, as the staff work hard to produce bottles and bags of naturally made juices for their customers.
Shopkeepers here say they've seen a rise in demand over the holy month for their products, as Muslims observing the Ramadan fast look to quench their thirst on the natural drinks.
Shop owner, Mohammed Sabeh has been in the beverage business for decades. He says Ramadan wouldn't be the same without carob, tamarind and shami berries juices.
"During the month of Ramadan, it is known that every house needs daily Ramadan drinks varying from liquorice and carob syrup to jallab and tamarind as well as shami berries. We sell all these during the holy month of Ramadan, we have been in this business for more than 100 years now, in this same shop,'' he said.
The day's drinks are prepared in large containers with customers coming to collect their orders before their iftar meals.
One shopper said it isn't only a tradition to drink the natural juices, but there are also a number of health benefits.
"Liquorice syrup is, first at all, very good for the stomach. And this is Ramadan, this is the season where people drink it,'' said shopper Abdel-Rahman Baltaji.
In the Lebanese city of Tripoli, juice shops are also gearing up to provide sufficient supplies of drinks made from carob.
The drinks are made from the carob bean, which are grounded into a powder in order to make the drinks. Carob is high in protein as well as essential vitamins, it's also used by some as substitute to chocolate.
For shop owner Abou Fouad Al-Denawi he says drinks like carob add a certain flavour to the month.
''Carob syrup has itself a great importance and flavour during the month blessed month of Ramadan, aside from the whole year. Especially during the blessed month of Ramadan, there is no Ramadan meal without carob syrup,'' he said.
When the drinks are ready they're poured into different containers ready for the customers.
"Carob syrup is the motto of all Tripoli. People everywhere love to drink Carob, liquorice and Raspberry syrup drinks during Ramadan,'' said customer Abdalla.
"Jallab or liquorice syrup have their own speciality (during Ramadan) as people would have been fasting all day long. They also have many health and body benefits like quenching thirst,'' added another customer Abou Ali.
Jallab is made from rose water, dates and grape molasses, often served with ice, pine nuts and raisins. Amar al-Din is another sweet drink with dried apricots as the main ingredient.
Traditionally Muslims break their fast on dates, following prophetic tradition. Ramadan is one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar, when Muslims believe that God revealed the Koran to prophet Mohammed.
The month ends with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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