Aish Baladi In Egypt To most of the people in the world, bread is a kind of food, but for Egyptians, bread is “life.” More than 5000 years back, bread culture already started in Egypt, Egyptians call bread “Aish Baladi”.
“Aish” means life and “Baladi” means traditional or authentic; and from this concept of life, Egyptians have perceived bread since ancient times. Egyptians may not care about politics, economy, or other life topics, but they care about and would not leave ”Aish Baladi” out of their daily lives. This flat bread is traditionally baked in scorching hot ovens, and until today, the tradition is still preserved in family run bakeries, restaurants, and homes. When people walk down streets in Egypt, they will find many “Aish Baladi” factories, bread sellers are found within a few hundred feet across cities, towns and villages for bread is sold to the rich and poor throughout the day. “Aish Baladi” is considered a hot commodity in Egypt, and Egyptians are the largest consumers of bread in the world. One of the regular important daily activities for Egyptians is to purchase bread. Everyday, men, women, or children will buy stacks or bundles of “Aish Baladi” flat bread to take home. People can see these unique scenes of long lines for purchasing bread and stacks of bread being carried everywhere in Egypt due to the unique staple of “Aish Baladi” in Egyptions diet since ancient times. “Aish Baladi” is a dominant food in Egypt; bread is on every table from breakfast to dinner for both the rich and the poor. In Egypt, bread is the catalyst of friendship, love, loyalty, and long-lasting relationships. Many warm and friendly conversations can be heard over people “breaking bread” together. In addition, “Aish Baladi” is a symbolic expression of prosperity, for people who are involved in it have always job security and income throughout time. “Aish Baladi” never fails to make Egyptians feel full and happy in carrying on their hectic life in a country that has a population of about 100 million people. Therefore, “Aish Baladi” is not only a food item for Egyptians but also significant and reflective of the Egyptian culture.
