Health And Heritage: Date Seed Coffee Revitalizes Iraqi Beverage Scene – CoffeeTalk

Iraqi entrepreneur Jaber Abdul-Azeez Hussein is creating Iraq’s first home-grown date seed coffee, transforming discarded seeds into a rich, nutty brew that delights consumers and reduces waste. The coffee, which represents Iraqi identity, was created in 2018 when Hussein was preparing for graduation from the Food Sciences College in Babil province, south of Baghdad. Between the 1950s and 1970s, Iraq was the world’s top grower of dates, producing nearly one million tonnes a year. The country had about 32 million date palm trees.

However, the numbers began to drop after the Iraq-Iran war broke out in the 1980s, followed by the First Gulf War of 1990-91 to expel Saddam Hussein’s army from Kuwait and the ensuing UN-imposed economic sanctions. By 2003, the number of palm trees was down to only nine million, and date production had dropped to about 200,000 tonnes a year. Two years later, the government set up the Date Palm Board and offered farmers subsidised fertilisers and insecticides, as well as soft loans to expand their orchards, as well as facilities for exporters.

Since then, hope has grown of reviving the palm industry, which has been badly battered by decades of war, mismanagement, and neglect. Today, Iraq has about 22 million palm trees, and the country produced more than 700,000 tonnes of dates last year, of which about 650,000 tonnes were exported.

Date seed coffee has gained popularity in many countries due to its unique taste and as a caffeine-free alternative to traditional coffee that is loaded with antioxidants. Mr. Hussein says the beverage also offers numerous potential health benefits, including lowering blood pressure and body temperature, and is used as medicinal food for bronchial asthma, coughs, kidney stones, and weak memory due to its high amino acids.

Mr. Hussein sources his seeds from date factories in the Kirkuk area where his production is based. The manufacturing process starts with washing the seeds carefully, then roasting and grinding them before adding natural herbs and spices for a unique flavor. His company currently offers only a cardamom and herb-infused blend but more varieties are planned in the near future.

Monthly production is 6-7 tonnes, and the company now has up to 150,000 loyal customers. It receives thousands of orders a month – up from five or fewer when it started – after launching its new marketing strategy. For Mr. Hussein, his date seed coffee is more than a business – it is a symbol of Iraq’s resilience and identity.

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