In pictures: Afghan bread and a cup of tea

Small bakeries have been in the business for decades in the UAE, especially in Sharjah where they have a large clientele. Gulf News went to capture the essence of Afghan bread and found that there is much effort and skill involved in its making.

The bakery of Haji Niayz Mohammad has been operating for 30 years. It is located in the Al Musalla area, which also known as the heart of Sharjah.

Mohammad, who is in his late 40s, has been running his bakery along with his brother and three other workers. He wakes up at 3am to make sure that they get busy making bread as their customers start arriving at the crack of dawn.

On an average day, he rolls out 2,000 pieces of bread and every one is sold out by the end of the day, which essentially means midnight. He charges a mere Dh1 apiece. It's hard work as Mohammad and his staff allow themselves just an hour's break for lunch.

Haji's son Atta Mohammad has been recently inducted into the business and the young man is slowly learning the tricks of retaining the essence of the humble Afghan bread from his father.

Bridging barriers

"Bread is required by all classes of society and nationalities, from the rich to the poor. It is an essential part of one's daily diet," says Mohammad, breaking into a smile.

Proud of the bread he sells, he adds: "Afghan bread is soft and good for the stomach. It is digested quickly and if you eat it with special Afghan green tea, it tastes just perfect."

Nothing matches the taste of Afghan bread fresh from the oven. Staff photographer Atiq-Ur-Rehman finds that you don't need curries to enjoy it. The softness of the bread works wonders on your taste buds