The
Essence of.....Jordan
An exploration of the world through food and drink
Essence -ial Information
|
UK Tourist Office |
109 Hammersmith Road |
|
Currency |
Dinar |
|
Capital |
Amman |
|
Language |
Arabic |
|
Main Airlines |
Royal Jordanian |
|
Flying Time from UK |
6 Hrs |
|
Visa |
1 month single entry visa on entry |
PROFILE
Jordan shares culinary cultures with other Arabic and Mediterranean countries - hummus, baba ghanoush, tabouleh, falafel and kebabs all feature strongly. Yet Jordan has its own delicacies and national favourites, including one of the oldest wine making histories in the world.
Even though Jordan is largely a Muslim country, drinking alcohol is not a social taboo; it is readily available in restaurants and hotels. There are also bars in tourist areas and some of the major cities particularly those with a significant Christian community.
Wine. Jordan has one of the oldest wine making histories in the world; there are several references to Holy Land wine in the Bible. The climate and soils are well suited to quality grape production, yet until recently there were no vineyards of international repute.
The national dish of Jordan is Mansaf: lamb seasoned with aromatic herbs, sometimes lightly spiced, cooked in yoghurt, and served with huge quantities of rice. Feasting on Mansaf is taken seriously, and hours are spent in its preparations.
Mansaf is cooked in jameed (the Arabic word for dried yoghurt), which is then mixed with water in a tray to produce a creamy sauce. This is poured into a large stewing pot with chunks of lamb meat. The pot is put over an open fire. As the stew begins to warm, it is stirred to prevent the yoghurt from separating.
Large trays are covered with the doughy flat Arabic bread and dampened with yoghurt. On top of this, a layer of rice is heaped. The meat is then piled on top. Almonds, pine-kernels and other nuts may be sprinkled over the dish, which is then ready for serving.
Stuffed Baby Lamb is a popular dish in Jordan, which people enjoy as a big and heavy meal. It consists of roasted lamb, stuffed with rice, chopped onions, nuts and raisins.