The Saudi Heritage Preservation Society has called on UNESCO to protect traditional Khawlani coffee cultivation techniques in Saudi Arabia.
The Arabian coffee tradition has been passed down for generations by the ancient tribes of Khawlan who have grown and processed Khawlani coffee beans in the valleys of Jazan, a region in the southern-most tip of Arabia, for over 300 years.
“Khawlani coffee cultivation is crucial to the preservation not only to the nation’s cultural identity, but also Islamic history,” said the society.
Efforts to begin preserving the legacy of Khawlani coffee began in 2019 with the documentation of local farmers’ cultivation processes.
The society delivered an application requesting protection of this ancient form of coffee in March 2019 and said it hopes UNESCO will reach a decision by November 2020.
