Qishr facts for kids

Qishr (Arabic: قشر geshir, gishr, kishr) is a warm, traditional drink from Yemen. It is made from the outer coverings, or husks, of coffee beans. People add spices like ginger and sometimes cinnamon to give it flavor. In Yemen, Qishr is often enjoyed instead of regular coffee. This is because it does not need the coffee beans to be roasted first.

History of Qishr

Coffee plants first came to Yemen a long time ago. They traveled across the Red Sea from Africa. In Yemen, some religious people, called dervishes, started growing coffee plants in their gardens.

At first, people in Yemen used parts of the coffee plant to make different drinks. One early drink was made from the pulp of coffee berries. This drink was also called qishr and was used in special religious events.

Later, people started making Qishr from the husks of the coffee beans. This drink became very popular. It was especially common in areas like the Tihamat al 'Asir.

Travelers to Yemen often wrote about Qishr. They noted that it was a common drink offered to guests. One traveler mentioned that even in the heart of coffee-growing areas, people drank Qishr instead of brewed coffee. This shows how important Qishr was in Yemeni culture. It was a sign of great hospitality.