Syria

Syria

CULTURE

Geographyo Syria's Mediterraanean border in low-lying and filled with underground water sources, making the region very fertile and heavily populated.o Being quite a small country, the weather variations in Syria are distinct. - They result in differing landscapes and seasons.o But along the Mediterranean Sea coast, the air tends to be more humid.

Syrian Cuisine Interview

Staple FoodsBread: bread is fairly common; the variety of choice is pita breadHummus: a dip consisting of mashed chickpeas (garbanzo beans), tahini, garlic, and lemonRice: numerous types of rice exist and it tends to be either a side or a base for many dishesTabbouleh: a "salad" generally made of parsley, bulgur, tomatoes, garlic, and lemon

People & ReligionsMost Syrians are Arabic-speaking Muslims, mainly Sunnite with significant Alawite and Druze minorities; there are also Kurds, Armenians, and Circassians. About 10% of the people are Christian, mainly Orthodox. Arabic is the official language.

Regional Variations, Specialties, & Unique DishesDolma: fruits, meats, and/or vegetables with rice stuffed in grape leaves, but sometimes also served in peppers or tomatoesKebab: numerous styles exist, but usually with a base of roasted lamb or chicken and vegetables in pita breadKibbeh: minced lamb and bulgur, although further ingredients widely vary as every city has their own versionMezze: sampling of numerous dishes, generally including small plates up to grilled meats

Eating Customs and Patternso Dining rules vary slightly based on whether your host and other diners are Christian or Muslim.o Dress on the conservatively side.o In conservative homes, it is not acceptable to eat with a person of the opposite sex unless you are related or married. o People traditionally eat on the floor with mats. If not, on tables with chairs.

Primary ResearchFor my primary research, I conducted a survery of around 10 people or more. I asked people, specifically grade eleven students and just some people in other grades, few questions about Middle Eastern and Syrian culture. I asked if they were familiar with the traditions and the foods that they eat.And to conclude, the results I ended off with was that the people knew about staple foods that were eaten, but also have never heard of any 'Aleppo' foods.

Ma'amoul