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Significance
Palestinian Za’atar: Green Thyme, Toasted Sesame Seeds, Sumac, Salt. This spice mix is a traditional part of morning gatherings, supporting brain health and delicious stimulation. Under apartheid laws and occupation, the growth of this ancient green Za’atar and Sumac has been restricted as “protected species” for Palestinians, inhibiting access to the lands where it is grown and rich foraging traditions. It is a spice, like many Arab foods, often appropriated without acknowledgment of it’s origins and conditions of its resilience. Seed protectors play a crucial role in the community, holding on to generations of agricultural history and significance. Its story is connected to the many layers of humanity and culture that continue to share this zesty flavor with the world. Noushi Pastry uses Green Thyme from Jerusalem and Ramallah, Palestine and Organic Sumac from Al Quds Orchard in Jenin, Palestine.
Palestinian Extra Virgin Olive Oil: The story of olive cultivation in Palestine dates back over 6,000 years . The Canaanites, early inhabitants of Palestine, were among the first to develop techniques for extracting oil from olives. Harvest season each October is a time rich in ritual, song, dance and celebration. It is a time of joy and story telling among deeply rooted resilience, as farmers grow under occupation, subject to increasing land restrictions and settler violence. Each olive is a seed of hope and resistance shared with the world. Olive oil is a staple of every meal, nourishing and healing the mind, body, soul. From baby olive oil baths, hair massages: drinking it, pouring it, rubbing it, eating it, Olive Oil is the Palestinian equivalent of put that “ish” on everything! The harvest is a story of love and connection. Noushi Pastry uses Extra Virgin Olive Oil sourced by Olive Odyssey, a woman-led farmer collective in Palestine. The oil used in the Noushi Twists is sourced from Jerusalem by farmer Ayda Saadah. Learn more.