Gahwa and Muhammar - Sweet Rice and Cardamom Coffee from Bahrain

Gahwa, a fragrant flavored coffee, is part of the traditional welcoming process in Bahrain. It’s delightful – an enchantingly-spiced coffee that doesn’t require a coffee maker.

I tried it with Muhammar, a Bahrainian sweet rice that was warm and wonderful with dates.

Gahwa: Bahrainain Coffee
3 cups water
1 tsp coffee
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp rosewater

Boil the water, add the coffee, and cook for about 2 minutes. Then add the cardamom and rosewater, and pour the mixture into a coffee pot, making sure most of the grounds stay in the pan. Allow the coffee to brew in the pot for five or ten minutes.
Muhammar – Sweet Rice Recipe
Serves: 3

3/4 cups rice, preferably basmati
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1/8 tsp saffron
3 cardamom pods, opened & ground up
1 Tbsp rosewater
5 dates

Boil the rice in 6 cups of water for about 10 minutes, until the rice is soft all the way through. Then drain the excess water and add the sugar, butter, saffron, cardamom, and rosewater. Cook over very low heat, covered, for about 20 minutes.