‘IT’S ARABIC’
COFFEE
The coffee tree is native to Sudan and Ethiopia. The word coffee derives from the Turkish word kahve and the Arabic word qahwah, which means any stimulating drink, according to Larousse Gastronomique.
FOMALHAUT
Fomalhaut also known as Alpha Piscisaustrini, the brightest star in the fish-shaped constellation Piscis. the name Fom Al Hoot comes from the scientific Arabic fam Al Hoot (Al Janubi) "the mouth of the [Southern] Fish"
COUSCOUS
This popular dish is indigenous to North Africa and is made from hard semolina. While recipes and variations occur across the region, depending on the spices and meat available, it derives directly from the Arabic kouskous, according to Larousse Gastronomique.
WASAT
Wasat is the traditional name for Delta Geminorum in the zodiac constellation Gemini, made up of the two twins Castor and Pollux. Wasat lies at the centre of Castor, which gives it its Arabic name wasat, which means "middle".
CRIMSON
Crimson is a deep red colour that originates from the red that infest the kermes oak, native to the Mediterranean area. It comes from old Spanish cremesin, which is derived from the Arabic qurmuz.
DENEB
Deneb is the brightest star in the swan-shaped constellation Cygnus, and is a direct transliteration of dhanab, the Arabic for "tail", from the phrase Dhanab Al Dajaja, or "tail of the hen".
ALEMBIC
Alembic is a copper pot used in distillation, deriving from the Arabic al’ inbiq. The traditional alembic is made up of a boiler, a cap where vapours collect, and a bent pipe which is cooled to collect the distillate, according to Larousse Gastronomique.
UMMA
Umma is the entire community of Muslims bound together by the ties of religion, according to the oxford English dictionary. It is a direct use of the Arabic umma, which means people or community.
TELL
Tell is an archeological term that refers to the buildup of settlements, one on top of another. According to the oxford English Dictionary, tell word derives from Arabic tal, meaning a small hill.
TAGINE
Tagine refers to an earthenware cone-shaped cooking pot used almost exclusively in North African cooking. It is derived from the Arabic word tajin or frying pan.
