KABUL, AFGHANISTAN —
Steeped in centuries of clearly inflexible tea tradition, Afghanistan’s collateral is removing a small coffee buzz.
Nargis Aziz Shahi says business has been augmenting day by day given she non-stop iCafe a integrate of weeks ago. Looking a small like a brick-walled Starbucks with a admirably native Afghan feel, it’s attracting a mostly childish business drawn by giveaway internet use and books to peruse over a crater or two.
“There were 3 pivotal objectives that led me open a cafe: 1) to deliver coffee to Afghans who mostly don’t know coffee and a ambience and benefits; 2) to yield a place for a girl to lift out amicable activities; and 3) to yield pursuit opportunities for immature people,” Shahi told VOA’s Afghan service.
Tea came to Afghanistan early
Afghanistan was introduced to tea early since of a plcae on ancient trade routes. The Chinese traded silk and tea for other commodities. Tea became partial of a country’s liberality for guests. Just about any family has a possess recipe.
Today, Afghanistan is a world’s largest tea consumer, with any chairman immoderate an normal of roughly 4.5 kilograms — some-more than 1,500 cups — per year in 2012. By comparison, a U.S. ranked 72nd during 0.4 kilograms per person.
Only a Russian Federation and Britain, with most incomparable populations, import some-more tea.
Coffee enlightenment gets a start
Dr. Nabi Misdaq, confidant to President Ashraf Ghani, has visited iCafe. He regards coffee celebration as a new, didactic enlightenment in Afghanistan.
“It is a good beginning,” Misdaq said. “It is a essential business, since many immature people come here to review books and sell ideas. we am certain that this will also lead to a opening of new shops.”
The cafeteria also serves as a place for immature Afghans to lift out amicable and informative activities. They come to iCafe to attend literary programs and communication contests.
The womanlike business contend there are few other places where they can get together and perform themselves, though they say that they come to a emporium to relax and enjoy.
“I am really happy that we have a coffee emporium in Kabul,” pronounced patron Samira Seerat. “It is a really good place for women to visit. There are in fact no suitable places for women in Kabul, and Afghanistan as a whole, to visit, since a people trust that women can't go to restaurants.”