Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Coffee remains popular during Ramadan for caffeine-loving Libyans

Coffee has been a part of Libyan culture since the 15th century, when Yemeni beans arrived through North African trade routes and into Europe.

Coffee remains popular during Ramadan for caffeine-loving Libyans

Italy's colonisation of Libya left a lasting cultural legacy - a national fondness for espresso. However, during the month of Ramadan, devout Libyans give up their daily caffeine fix. Muslims around the world observe fasting from dawn until dusk during this holy month, which includes abstaining from food and drink.

During Ramadan, "we spend the whole day dreaming about the coffee we're going to drink", said Abdel Basset Hamza, a shopowner in Tripoli's Old City.


"There's nothing that we drink more than coffee," the 63-year-old said as he donned a hat and down jacket to step away from his luggage store to order a late afternoon brew before the start of Ramadan.

Tripoli's city centre is adorned with various cafes, ranging from small kiosks to spacious halls, all of which are fitted with advanced Italian espresso machines.

Although coffee is an essential aspect of everyday life throughout North Africa and the Middle East, Abdel Basset Hamza claims that Libya distinguishes itself from its neighbours because "you don't find coffee of this quality made in this way with such machines."

When it’s not Ramadan, the sidewalks outside the city's cafes are filled with predominantly male groups savouring their daytime drinks.

According to Mohamed Zourgani, the owner of an Old City cafe purchased by his grandfather in the 1950s, he doesn't anticipate a decrease in business during the fast, but rather a shift towards concentrated business in the evenings.

"The coffee Libyans usually drink over 16 hours, during Ramadan they drink over two hours, from as soon as the sun goes down," said the 31-year-old with a well-groomed beard.

Immediately after people break their daily fast, he predicted, they will rush "to drink coffee as if it were water".

Coffee has been a part of Libyan culture since the 15th century, when Yemeni beans arrived through North African trade routes and into Europe.

However, when Italy colonised Libya in 1911, the country's coffee culture underwent a transformation, with strong espressos replacing cardamom-flavoured Arabic coffee.

Despite this, older generations still prefer Arabic coffee, while younger people tend to order espresso or macchiato, according to Zourgani. He noted that even during times of conflict, Libyans remain dedicated to their coffee-drinking habits.

Despite the decade-long war that has ravaged Libya since the 2011 revolution that toppled former dictator Moamer Kadhafi, Tripoli's cafes continue to thrive.

The capital, which still bears the scars of several major battles as recently as 2020, is home to numerous coffee shops where patrons sit at outdoor tables and chat about politics and daily life over a "tazza" of coffee - an espresso-sized cup that costs less than a euro.

Some cafes even serve a local adaptation of affogato, the Italian dessert without its customary liqueur.

Ali Khawaja, a 24-year-old coffee lover, sees Ramadan as an opportunity to enjoy the drink even more. He says that coffee is a staple on every iftar table and that he spends the evenings with friends drinking it after the fast-breaking meal at dusk.

Despite the lack of coffee during the day, Ali and many other Libyans still find a way to incorporate the beloved beverage into their Ramadan routines.

(With inputs from AFP)

More For You

Nitin Ganatra art exhibition

Through abstract forms, bold colour, and layered compositions

thelax.art

Nitin Ganatra debuts first solo art exhibition in London’s Soho

Highlights:

  • Fragments of Belonging is Nitin Ganatra’s first solo exhibition
  • Opens Saturday, September 27, at London Art Exchange in Soho Square
  • Show explores themes of memory, displacement, identity, and reinvention
  • Runs from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM, doors open at 3:15 PM

From screen to canvas

Actor Nitin Ganatra, known for his roles in EastEnders, Bride & Prejudice, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, is embarking on a new artistic chapter with his debut solo exhibition.

Titled Fragments of Belonging, the show marks his transition from performance to painting, presenting a deeply personal series of works at the London Art Exchange in Soho Square on September 27.

Keep ReadingShow less
familie

£1 tickets available for families receiving Universal Credit

HRP

Peter Rabbit brings Beatrix Potter’s tales to life at Hampton Court this summer

Highlights:

  • The Peter Rabbit™ Adventure runs at Hampton Court Palace from 25 July to 7 September 2025
  • Trail includes interactive games, riddles and character encounters across the gardens
  • Children can meet a larger-than-life Peter Rabbit in the Kitchen Garden
  • Special themed menu items available at the Tiltyard Café
  • £1 tickets available for families receiving Universal Credit and other benefits

Peter Rabbit comes to life at Hampton Court

This summer, families visiting Hampton Court Palace can step into the world of Beatrix Potter as The Peter Rabbit™ Adventure takes over the palace gardens from 25 July to 7 September 2025.

Peter Rabbit Explore the Kitchen Garden, Tiltyard and WildernessHRP

Keep ReadingShow less
Gary Lineker

The former Match of the Day presenter was voted best TV presenter by viewers at the ceremony on Wednesday

Getty Images

Gary Lineker breaks Ant and Dec’s 23-year run at National Television Awards

Highlights:

  • Gary Lineker named best TV presenter, breaking Ant and Dec’s 23-year run
  • Former Match of the Day host left BBC after social media controversies
  • Netflix drama Adolescence wins two awards, including best drama performance for 15-year-old Owen Cooper
  • Gavin & Stacey takes home the comedy award
  • I’m a Celebrity wins in the reality competition category

Lineker takes presenter prize after BBC departure

Gary Lineker has ended Ant and Dec’s record 23-year winning streak at the National Television Awards (NTAs). The former Match of the Day presenter was voted best TV presenter by viewers at the ceremony on Wednesday.

Lineker stepped down from Match of the Day in May after 26 years, following controversy around his social media posts. Accepting the award, he thanked colleagues and said the prize showed “it is OK to use your platform to speak up on behalf of those who have no voice.” He added: “It’s not lost on me why I might have won this award.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Arundhati Roy
UN human rights office urges India to drop cases against Arundhati Roy
AFP via Getty Images

Arundhati Roy’s memoir on growing up in mother’s shadow

ARUNDHATI ROY’S forthcoming memoir, Mother Mary Comes To Me, is about the author’s close but fraught relationship with her mother, Mary Roy, whose death in 2022 her daughter has likened to “being hit by a truck”.

Mary Roy, who insisted her children call her “Mrs Roy” in school, belonged to the Syrian Christian community. She does not seem a very nice person.

Keep ReadingShow less