Weather:

IthasaMediterraneanclimatewhichhasmildtocool,wetwintersandwithhot,dry
summers.Theclimatevariesacrossthecountry.Forexample,whilethecoast
experiencesmildwinters,TheLebanonMountainsexperienceheavywintersnows.
Geographyrelativetocropsandfuel:
Geographically,LebanonislocatedintheMiddleEast,borderingtheMediterranean
Sea,betweenIsraelandSyria.
ItisthesmallestcountryincontinentalAsia.
Lebanonhasfewriversandharborsaremostlyshallowandsmall.Coastalwatersare
polluted.Soyoullnoticethateventhoughitisacoastalcountry,thereisnotseafood
involvedintheircuisine.
Agriculturalland:63.3%arableland11.9%permanentcrops12.3%permanentpasture
39.1%
Foodguide:
TheLebanesedietfocusesonherbs,spices,andfreshingredients.Leftoversare
typicallynoteaten.Theydonotrelyheavilyonheavysauces.Breadisastapleanditis
servedwithalmosteverymeal,usuallyasaflatbreadorpita.Typicallytheamountof
fruits,vegetables,andgrainsinthemealoutweightheamountofmeat.Themost
commonmeatsusedinLebanesedishesarepoultryandlamb.
Mezze,whichisaflavorfulvarietyofhotandcolddishes,isalsoimportantinthe
Lebanesediet.Upto40smalldishesarepresentedatonceeitherasappetizersorasa
meal.Thisincludesitemssuchashummusandpickledvegetables.Mealsarerarely
servedincourses.Foodsarepresentedallatonce.
Freshfruitsarepopularafterdinnerdesserts.Baklavaisalsopopular.Afterdinnerdrinks
whicharecommonlyservedwithdessertcanincludeAhweh,whichisastrong,thick
Arabicstylecoffeeandarak,whichisacolorlessalcoholicbeveragethatismadewith
anise.
HistoryofFoodandCooking:
UniqueculturalhistoryhasformedLebanesecuisine.Theforeignpowersthathaveruled
overLebanoninthepasthaveinfluencedthetypesoffoodeatenbytheLebanese.
From15161918TheOttomanTurkscontrolledthecountry,whichintroducedavariety
offoodsincludingoliveoil,freshbread,baklava(sweetpastry),laban(yogurt),stuffed
vegetables,andvarietiesofnuts.Theincreasedpopularityoflambindishesisalso
attributedtoOttomaninfluence.AfterWWI,whenFrancetookcontrolofLebanon,foods
likeflanandcroissantswereintroducedtoLebanesediets.Ancienttribesjourneying
throughtheMiddleEastalsoaddedfoodstotheLebanesediet.Foodssuchasriceand
dates,whichdonotspoileasily,wereintroducedbythosepassingthrough.
HerbsandSpices
TraditionalUseshaveusedallkindsofregionalspicesandherbsineverydaycuisine
stillusedintraditionalsenseseveryday
ModernUsesHipstertrendsgrowingSageMargarita,RosemaryWhiskeySour

TheMostImportant
ZaatarLebanesefavoriteusedabundantlyintheMiddleEast
ScientificBotanyNames:
MajoranasyriacaorOriganumsyriacum
Herbknownascousinofthymeorwildthyme
SpiceMixherbs,sesame,andsumac,varyingthembyproportionsdependingon
cultureandcountry.
BakeriestopflatbreadswithZaatar
BiblicalRoots
AsCommonasKetchup!
FoodChainsSeasoningforBurgersandFries

Animalsforfoodsupplyandproduction
Production
Chicken$185,543130,260MT
Cattle$66,62024,661MT
Sheep$23,6758,695MT

PoultryBirds98%oftotallivestock2%Cattle&Sheep
=60poultrybirds/halfacreofagriculturalland

ImportExportSlide
Beirut
chiefportcityandcapitalofLebanonprimaryshippingportofimports/exports
cocktailsareverypopular
Import:
LebaneseMountainBrewingHopsandbottlecaps,
ImpactofWarsontradeIndustriesimportmostoftheirmaterials
StrongAgriculturalPrideintheirownfreshherbs,fruitsandvegetables
RelianceonImport:
Cigarettes11,339MT$238,412
BonelessBeefandVeal27,474MT$156,989
Wheat446,120MT$143,872
Export:
Potatoes118,727MT$20,877
Moremoneypertonfornutsandspiceslikenutmeg,mace,andcardamoms

CustomsandReligion
95%Arab,4%Armenian,1%Other
59.7%Muslim,39%Christian,1.3%Other
ArabicistheofficiallanguageFrenchandEnglishandcommonlyspokenaswell
3kissesonthecheekforgreeting
Manyconversationsbeginwithaskingaboutfamilies
Verypersonalwhentalking
Interlockingarmswithsamesexisverycommon

CookingMethod
Conventionalovens
meatpies,zaatarsandwiches
Griddle
similartoapan
alsocalledthesaj
Bakersoven
Neighborhoodbaker
Veryhotfloor,causingpietocookquickly
scorchingheatpreservedinside
Clayoven
alsocalledtannur
likealargebarrel
cooksbread

DiningEtiquette
WelldressedGreeteldersfirst
Tablemannersareformal
Waittobetoldwheretosit
Continentalwayofeating
Foodisplacedinthecenterofthetableandyouhelpyourself
Expectedtotryallfoodsatthetable
Eatmorethanoneservingtoshowenjoymentoffood