Kahwa is different from the strong dark coffee many adults drink in Western countries. It is lighter, more golden-green in colour, and flavoured with cardamom and sometimes rosewater or saffron. It is served in small handle-less cups called finjan, which are filled only half-full — a gesture meaning 'I want you to stay for more, so I can refill your cup'.
Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree, which grows throughout Oman. Oman produces hundreds of varieties of dates — from soft, caramel-sweet fresh dates to firmer, slightly chewy dried ones. Dates have been grown in Oman for at least 5,000 years and are enormously important in Omani cooking, culture, and trade.
The combination of kahwa and dates works perfectly: the mild bitterness of the spiced coffee balances the sweetness of the dates. Guests hold the small cup in the right hand and gently shake it side to side when they have had enough, as a polite signal to the host.
Hospitality — welcoming guests warmly and making them feel comfortable — is one of the most important values in Omani culture. The tradition of kahwa and dates is one of the most beautiful expressions of that value.