The traditional cuisine of Taif is quite hearty, which is not surprising considering the agricultural activity in mountainous terrain for many centuries and the life of the inhabitants under not always easy living conditions. Taif is not exactly a stronghold of gastronomy and not as ‘trendy’ as Jeddah. The café culture appears to be somewhat more pronounced. Ask for Saudi coffee, which is grown and roasted south of Taif – it offers a completely different flavour experience to what we know from Western countries. Traditional drinks from Taif include almond coffee, which exudes the aroma of cardamom and grated almonds. Jamar tea is served in winter.
