The
Historic Coffee Trail to Israel to be Unveiled at the Museum of Islamic Art in
Jerusalem
July 11 - 2021
Coffee Geography Magazine
The
display of the historical coffee trail to be unveiled at the Museum of Islamic
Art on Thursday July 15 with the curator, Yahel Shefer raises new questions about
how long the coffee beans were with us before reaching the later Ottoman Empire
to introduce it throughout Europe. There is no doubt in the new finding by
Yahel Shefer that Ethiopia is still the origin of the coffee bean that we enjoy
it today in different forms. The timing of the first introduction of the bean to
certain regions is the most important fact finding for Yahel and other
historians for that matter.
According
to the early historical documents, the coffee bean was initially transported
across the Gulf of Aden from the town of Harar by Arab slave traders as early
as 12 century to Yemen where the drink later became popular. Arab Writers had
documented that the city of Mecca was probably the first place where public
cafés opened to make it a social drink.
“They
used to put in things like cardamom and cinnamon,” Yahel explained. “Cardamom
was added to coffee from the beginning. It came from India, via the spice
trail.”
Museum of Islamic art, Jerusalem
Yahel
Shefer spent years researching the subject matter before organizing an expansive
array of objects, including intriguing edifying posters and other written
material, which relates to the fascinating coffee history.
“It
is the drink for which the greatest number of auxiliary items was designed,”
Shefer said. “Anyone who felt any sort of connection with coffee – architects,
designers, artists and other professionals – came up with creations for it.”
“According to my research, coffee has been
around in Ethiopia for over a thousand years, and probably for longer,” she
suggests. “It is highly likely that when Queen of Sheba (Ethiopian Queen) came
to the Land of Israel [in the 10th century BCE] to visit King Solomon, with all
her spices and gold, ivory, other gifts, she brought coffee with her, too.”
The
previous historical data was described as coffee came to Israel from Egypt,
with the first mention of a café noted in Safed in 1580.
“It
was described, in a text by Rabbi Mitrani.” says Shefer.
According
to Yahel’s narration, centuries ago, monks used the coffee in order to stay
awake during long study stretches, and it was even used by military folk to
ensure their soldiers could march through the day and night, and stay alert to
enemy activity in the process.
Painting of Queen of Sheba from Ethiopia offering gift to King Solomon
Shefer
says that Solomon’s royal visitor was hip to that. “Back then they ground
coffee and inserted it into animal fat, normally from goats and sheep, and they
rolled it into balls and gave that to soldiers and hunters, when they went out
for a long trip.”
However,
the contribution of the Yemenis and Turkish traders in the 15 century played
the pivotal role for the introduction of coffee first to Venice and later to
deep central Europe.
This
historical coffee display at the Museum of Islamic Art is the first of its kind
carrying many artifacts and potteries from many regions in the Middle East.