Coffee in Ethiopia
Coffee is said to have its origins in Ethiopia and is the favorite drink of many Ethiopians. It is drunk in a unique and traditional way, the coffee ceremony. The coffee beans are roasted over charcoal then ground and placed in a jebena (coffee pot) with boiling water. When ready it is served in small cups, up to three per ceremony. The first cup is called Abool, the second Tona, and the third Bereka. This is a social ceremony and lasts at least for half an hour.
Cuisine
Ethiopian cuisine is nothing to ignore either. Not only is the food extremely unique and flavorful, but the food culture that makes up Ethiopia is also something a visitor could find truly fascinating. One might happen to watch numerous times local Ethiopians feeding each other with a bite of food, which is seen as a very respectable way or a loving thing to do. Injera, which would be accompanied by stews, curries, meats or vegetables is the staple diet for most Ethiopians. It is made from an endemic grain known as teff, which is ground into flour, made into batter, slightly fermented, and then fried on a heavy skillet into giant circular pancakes. The texture is soft and spongy and the flavor is slightly sour.
However, for those who cannot acquire a taste for traditional Ethiopian food, a range Italian and other Western dishes is available almost everywhere.
Festivals
The prominent festivals in Ethiopia have been one of the most important factors contributing to the increasing number of visitors. Ethiopian Christmas, the joy of giving and sharing, extends beyond religious beliefs and spreads the spirit of peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind throughout the world. It is popularly celebrated on the 7th of January as Ethiopians follow the Julian Calendar. The Feast of Epiphany, on the 19th of January, Meskel, the Finding of the True Cross (an old Christian festival that has been celebrated in Ethiopia for over 1600 years), on 27th of September are also among the highly popular festivities that have already attracted many tourists from across the world.
