The UNESCO inscription
In 2022, at the 17th session of the Intergovernmental Committee, UNESCO inscribed "Knowledge and practices related to cultivating Khawlani coffee beans" on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, on the nomination of Saudi Arabia.
The Khawlan tribes and the name
Khawlani coffee is named after the Khawlan bin Amer tribe, whose lands lie in the mountains between Saudi Arabia and Yemen. It is grown in the highlands of Jazan, and Saudipedia describes it as one of the rarest and most expensive coffees in the world, known for its aroma and its oily surface.
The Khawlani tribes have grown coffee for more than 300 years and pass its skills and techniques on to the younger generations.
From seed to tree
According to the UNESCO file, the seeds are planted in mesh bags filled with soil and kept in the shade for three to four months. The seedlings are then moved to agricultural terraces that hold water and soil, and the fruit takes two to three years after planting to mature.
Picking and hulling
The fruit is picked by hand and laid out to dry. The dried fruit is then spread on a large flat stone mill, and a cylindrical stone is rolled over it to separate the bean from its outer shell without cracking it.
Coffee and generosity
Coffee symbolises generosity in Saudi Arabia, and serving guests beans from one's own farm is a sign of honour and respect. Planting and processing build social cohesion and a shared identity: farmers meet to exchange knowledge and help others improve their skills.
Where it grows in Jazan
Jazan leads the Kingdom's regions in coffee growing, followed by Aseer and then Al-Baha. Cultivation is concentrated in Jazan's mountain governorates: Al-Dayer, Fifa, Al-Idabi, Harub, Al-Rayth and Al-Aridah. A tourism festival for Khawlani coffee is held in Al-Dayer Governorate (Bani Malik), east of Jazan.
Support for the crop
The Public Investment Fund established the Saudi Coffee Company on 15 May 2022, and among its aims is sustainable coffee farming in Jazan. Saudipedia also records a Saudi Aramco initiative planning a Saudi Coffee Center in Jazan with a capacity of 300,000 seedlings a year, and notes that since 2016 the programme has planted about 200,000 seedlings and supported 975 farmers.
The Mdyaf programme, launched by the Ministry of Culture in 2022 for roasters and cafés as part of the Year of Saudi Coffee, put Khawlani coffee at its centre.