Taste Saudi Arabia’s Slow Food movement

Every culture in the world has a Slow Food tradition. At the heart of it all is homemade food, made with love, from local ingredients. While Saudi Arabia has been known for its excess it has also been featured in humble projects like the open fridge concept.

Now, Slow Food Saudi Arabia, in collaboration with the Culinary Arts Commission, will participate in the Saudi Feast Festival from November 27 to December 6 at the Abadi AlJohar Arena in Jeddah.

Under the theme Taste the Culture, Slow Food invites visitors to experience an immersive celebration of Saudi Arabia’s rich culinary heritage, with a special focus on the Ark of Taste program—a global initiative that catalogs endangered food products. The Ark of Taste is a living catalog of delicious and distinctive foods facing extinction.

At the heart of the event lies Slow Food’s commitment to preserving traditional food products, highlighting the work of local communities across the Kingdom who are dedicated to safeguarding their culinary traditions.

The Slow Food presence at the festival will showcase the diverse and unique flavors of Saudi cuisine, with particular emphasis on more than 120 Ark of Taste products representing the food diversity of the 13 Saudi Regions, from Al-Hassawi Rice to Figra Mountain Honey, from Iqt to Al-Bakaya Date Palm.

A key highlight of the event will be the launch of the Arabic edition of Good, Clean and Fair, the seminal book by Slow Food founder Carlo Petrini, which embodies the values of the Slow Food movement.

Visitors will have the opportunity to engage with Slow Food Saudi Arabia by signing up for membership, nominating new products for the Ark of Taste, and exploring Slow Food Travel experiences—unique opportunities to discover Saudi Arabia’s diverse culinary landscapes in greater depth.

What are some examples of protected Slow Food from Saudi Arabia?

Currently, Saudi Arabia has documented 13 protected food items under the Slow Food movement’s Ark of Taste, an initiative to safeguard traditional foods at risk of disappearing. These items represent the country’s diverse culinary heritage and include:

1. Saudi Al-Kholani coffee beans
2. Mountain sidr honey
3. Al-Hisawi rice
4. Al-Samh seeds
5. Kabath (a traditional plant)
6. Truffles
7. Ghafisah (a traditional dish)
8. Salt cane
9. Al-Maghmi dates
10. Najrani Burr (Al-Samma) wheat
11. Al-Haliah dates
12. Red camels (noted for their unique traits)
13. Moringa trees

Want to eat slow? Take a bite at the Saudi fair.