Bygone Era: Earthenware Jars, Secret Of Cool Water

(MENAFN- Gulf Times) The Majlis was full of people and young adults yearning for what the Hakawati (storyteller) was about to recount. As customary with him, he perfumed his beard and moustaches with musk, then cleared his throat, said "Bismillah" and prayed and sent peace upon the Prophet, then said, "In ancient times and long ago in Ramadan in old Qatar, and the Gulf region in general, cold water wasn't as readily available as it is today. Refrigerators weren't found in every home, so cooling water relied on simple yet effective methods.

Earthenware jars, known locally as "hibb" or "zeer," were placed in a shaded corner of the house or in the courtyard.

The porous nature of earthenware allowed a small amount of water to evaporate, lowering its temperature slightly from the ambient air. For a fasting person on a hot day, this small difference was enough to make the first cup of water at Iftar (Arabic for breaking the fast) an unforgettable moment.

In some homes, the "hibb" was placed on a raised wooden platform, with a small container underneath to collect the water droplets that seeped through the pores. Children would gather around it minutes before sunset, waiting for the moment when they could fill their cups. Interestingly, some homes used to have more than one water jug during Ramadan, as water consumption increased with fasting and the heat. The jugs were washed regularly with water and bran before the current dishwashing liquid became used; and the water was replenished daily. Sometimes, a little rosewater or mint leaves were added to give the water a light, refreshing scent.

In the neighbourhood, some homeowners would place a water jug outside their door for passersby to drink from, especially on hot Ramadan days. This simple cup of water became a symbol of the popular generosity for which the people of Qatar were known in the past. With the introduction of refrigerators in homes during the second half of the 20th century, the scene changed. Chilled water became available at any time, and earthenware jugs gradually disappeared from daily use, except for some alert people who value the healthier use of the jug. However, they remained present in popular memory, and sometimes even in traditional gatherings.

Surprisingly, the idea didn't disappear entirely; many people today still prefer drinking water from an earthenware vessel because its taste is slightly different, as if it carries a trace of a simpler time.

Majlis Hakawati Ramadan

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