Food & Drink

Rice, lentils, fuul (a paste of fava beans, garlic and lemon), chickpeas (including falafel - deep-fried chickpea balls) and cracked wheat (burghul) are common, and Arabic unleavened bread (khobz or pitta) accompanies every dish. Lamb and chicken are popular and usually served as shawarma (kebabs), along with soup and vegetables. Most food is spicy. Islam forbids the eating of pork and this law is enforced strictly throughout Saudi Arabia.

Alcohol is prohibited, even for visitors. The penalties for the possession of alcohol are severe, usually resulting in a prison sentence. Traditional coffee houses used to be everywhere, but are now being displaced by food-hall style cafes. Arabic tea is very popular, and is used in both casual and formal meetings between friends, family and strangers. The tea has a variety of herbal flavourings and is served without milk.