country
climate
coffee ceremony
eritrean cuisine

map of Eritrea

area: ca. 121.000 km2

ethnics:
approx. 4 Million. Eritrea is a country with 9 different tribes:Tigrinya (ca. 45%), Tigre (ca. 30%), Bilen, Kunama,
Nara, Beja, Saho, Afar, Rashaida

capital: Asmara

official languages : tigrinya, arabic

religions: christian, islam, animistic

Eritrea is a Country which is divided into three climates.The highland, the western lowland and the coastal areas. These three areas differ in many ways.

The Capital Asmara, which is in the highland, is pleasant all year round and averages a temperature of around 18 degrees. After the rainy season which is
generally between the months of June to September, Asmara becomes a very
colourful place with its variety of exotic flowers and green trees.

During the months of December to february, the winter season, the temperatures vary quite vastly from daytime to nighttime. This can be as much as zero degrees at night to around 20 degrees during the day. March is the hottest
month.

Around the coastal area the hottest months are June till September with temperatures here hovering around 40 - 50 degrees.
The humidity at this time is very high and the locals prefer to stay in the highlands during this very hot season.
The annual rainfall at the coastline is less than 200mm, which leaves the region very dry the whole year round.

The lowland, in the west, has an average temperature of about 30 degrees and is very hot the whole year round. However becauseof the lesser humidity it is bearable and easier for the locals to endure.

Very special to Eritrea is the "Danakil-impression. It is one of the hottest places on earth and contains some active volcanos.

coffee ceremony

The Eritrean people view coffee as a delicacy and to recieve an invitation to a coffee ceremony is a very special honour.
The Eritrean coffee ceremomy is always performed by a woman. First she washes the green coffee beans before roasting them in a small pot called a "menkesh". When the beans have been roasted enough, the unmistakeable aroma can be enjoyed by every guest.

The now freshly roasted beans are crushed and placed onto a "mishrafat", then they are mixed with water in a pot called a "jebena"
This is placed onto a charcoal stove and heated.
At the same time incense sticks are lit and a magnificent aroma fills the air enhancing a wonderful experience.

The coffee is served in small cups with lots of sugar. Popcorn is also offered.
The coffee is normally consumed in three helpings and
the complete ceremony generally takes around one hour. It is very impolite to leave earlier.
If you make compliments on how nice the aroma smells and you drink three cups of coffee, you will be invited to come back again :o)

country
climate
coffee ceremony
eritrean cuisine

eritrean cuisine

Food is traditionally eaten with your hands and sitting around a low table. Before eating you have to clean your hands in the water bassin
provided. The main food is "injera" which resembles a pancake. This is made from taff, wheat and barley, maize or sorghum. These are
rubbed and worked into a watery dough. This will now be left for a few days to ferment and then baked or roasted.

Injera is generally eaten with "zigni" which is like a stew with meat or fish and vegetables. To give "zigni"its typical flavour it is cooked with a hot spicy tomatoe sauce and chilli "berebera" and other exotic spices.

There is also a vegetable dishes. For instance "shiro", porridge of chickpeas, which you eat with injera. "birsen" which is a dish of lentils,
or "alticha", a vegetable stew.

The injera is served on a big plate and the stew, meat , fish or vegetables are then poured onto this. Pieces are then broken off the injera and this is used a scoop to eat the meal.

If you want to say that the meal taste very nice try saying "tu`um" that will make your hostess a very person :o)

The national drinks are "suwa" which tastes like beer but with a lot more
alcohol. "Mies" tastes like honey and "zebib" is a local spirit which tastes like ouzo.Another favourite is espresso and tea, which is known as "shai" and is taken with a lot of sugar.
Fresh papaya, mango and banana juices are also recommendable.