The land of the Persians, known to Europeans for centuries as Persia, is fractured by mountain ranges, made inhospitable by deserts, yet rich in fertile plains, forests and jewel-like gardens. Home to the most sublime architecture in the world, and a breeding ground for poets, empires, mathematicians, astronomers, mystics and saints, it has an enduring and […]
The great Mamluks are one of the least-known empires in history. They were blue-eyed Cossacks, guards of the Egyptian Palace who took control of the whole of the Arab East Mediterranean and ruled from 1250 to 1517. Artists were imported from across the known world and a great flowering ensued. Their weaving in particular shows […]
For a long time it was presumed that both the seeds for the indigo-bearing plants and the knowledge of how to turn them into a dye the colour of the night sky had blown west with the winds of trade; from India to the Middle East and Africa. People discovered the process independently, and at […]
Afghanistan is many things to many people but to me two things define it. Islam and the horse. As a young merchant, among my first purchases were a print of the Islamic mystical horse Buraq, and a Turkoman saddle cover. The energetic equestrian sport of Buzkashi is played in sight of mountains that proclaim loudly, […]
Ingredients: 1 whole celery 2 large onions 6 cloves garlic 3 cups fresh parsley (chopped) 1.5 cups fresh mint (chopped) 1 tsp tumeric 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/2 tsp ground cardamon 3/4 tsp ground cumin A good pinch of saffron bruised & brewed in a small amount of hot water (1Tbsp) […]
‘Where do I start?’ She suggested the stories of my search for business in Herat, Western Afghanistan when I was young and inexperienced. So . . . It was a time of relative peace before the USSR and USA fought over Afghanistan. This was my second visit to Herat, the first as a merchant. The year before, […]
QASHGAI SOFREH Handmade in Southern Persia 100% Handspun Sheep Wool Zagros Mountain Area “SOFREH” is one of the most important and frequently used textiles of a nomadic family, the Sofreh is used in the making and storing and serving of bread, the square size of the Soffre is important as it has to be used […]
Persians love fresh herbs. Even the most bitter herbs are handled with aplomb, so the final result is perfectly balanced. For example, this is a simple rice dish with a whole cup of finely chopped dill. 2 cups basmati-style rice. Cook as usual. 1 cup steamed broad beans. Fresh or frozen not the brown dried […]
