Abu Dhabi: If you are an expert in making Gahwa (Arabic coffee), today is your last chance to register for the first ‘Gahwa Championships’ to be held in Abu Dhabi and grab prizes of up to Dh125,000 offered for the most skilled Gahwa practitioners and enthusiasts.
Organised by the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) to celebrate the heritage of Gahwa across the region, the inaugural championships will take place at the food and beverage and hospitality fair SIAL Middle East 2019 from December 9 to 11, the department said in a press release.
The competition will feature five categories to test contestants’ skills and knowledge.
Prizes of Dh125,000 and Dh40,000 will be available for the winners and runners-up of the two ‘Sane’ Al Gahwa Championship’ categories for Light Roast and Medium/Dark Roast.
These categories will challenge participants to achieve the best Gahwa using their own roast preferences, whilst also testing their knowledge of the history and traditions associated with Gahwa. Using traditional utensils, the competitors will be judged on their grinding and boiling of the beans, the taste and quality of the final finjan of Gahwa, as well as their poise and etiquette in serving.
Two more prizes of Dh25,000 each will be awarded to the winners of the ‘Gahwa Roaster Award’ categories in Light Roast and Medium/Dark Roast.
The competitors will be evaluated in blind tastings by a specialist panel of judges who will examine flavour, body, acidity, sweetness, balance and aftertaste. The participants will be assessed on their roasting skills as well as their choice of beans and their origin.
The Gahwa Roaster Awards will be open to individuals and representatives of roasteries, with the prestigious titles of 2019 Winner of Gahwa Roaster Award – Light Roast category and 2019 Winner of Gahwa Roaster Award – Medium/Dark Roast category.
Dh20,000 will also be awarded to the winner of the ‘Gahwa Beverage Concept Award’, which will recognise the creator of the finest and most innovative hot or cold Gahwa-based beverage.
As well as the taste and appearance, participants will be assessed on their approach, technique, originality and creativity. The beverage concept category is open to all and offers the prestigious title of 2019 Winner of Gahwa Beverage Concept Award.
Visit www.gahwachampionships.ae to register and for more details.
