New Bhendi Bazar Cafe Supports Yemeni Farmers Transitioning From Qat To Coffee
A new Yemeni coffee shop has opened in Bhendi Bazar, near the Raudat Tahera mausoleum in Mumbai, serving authentic beverages and food to support an agricultural initiative that helps farmers in Yemen transition from cultivating the stimulant qat to growing coffee.
The establishment, run by the company Aqeeq Haraz Bunn, serves as part of an upliftment project for farmers in the Haraz region, a mountainous area located about 90 kilometers from Yemen's capital, Sana.
The late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the 52nd Dai or spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohras, initiated the project after becoming concerned about the harmful effects of widespread qat consumption. Qat is a plant whose leaves are consumed as a recreational stimulant. He suggested replacing qat plantations with coffee, which has now been blessed by the current spiritual head, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.
According to Shabbir Jabeli, a member of Aqeeq Haraz Bunn, the transition has significantly improved the health and economy of the local farmers in Yemen. Qat plantations consume large amounts of water and drain local resources, whereas coffee cultivation has proven to be a healthy and profitable alternative cash crop.
The cafe’s design features wooden window frames, stained glass engravings, rustic walls, and Arabic calligraphy with English translations praising coffee. Cafe manager Taha Petlawdaawala and chef Ibrahim Ismail Furniturewala, who studied culinary arts in Singapore, oversee the operations and kitchen.
The menu features authentic Yemeni dishes such as shafoot, a savory yogurt-based salad with flatbread; bint al-sahn, a traditional pastry; lahsa, a creamy egg dish with a spiced tomato base; and a Yemeni stew.
The cafe has quickly gained popularity among both the Bohra and non-Bohra communities. Local MLA Amin Patel recently visited the establishment, noting that the ambience, complete with low tables and an adjoining gift shop, made him feel as though he was being hosted in a Yemeni home.
