About Me

It is a custom to greet guests to tea and biscuits in a certain culture and the Somali culture is no different. As a little boy, I can remember mom greeting guests and demanding that I or my sister help put some water on the stove, blend or grind some herbs and ginger after saying hello.  We would cut some cake or serve some biscuits on a plate, place it all on a tray and walk it in to our guest. The best way to perform this custom is to have your guests be seated first. You should always ask your guest if they are hungry. Serving the tea, you don’t ask who wants some. We simply would bring over tea and treats without asking. The tea is always hot and is served in a thermos. Most people don’t know this custom of serving tea in a thermos. This is the ice breaker for everyone.My mom is an expert in the kitchen and I would always observe what she was doing. She has in the past helped a few Somali restaurants establish a name in Toronto. She is well known for her cooking  in our community and even has done weddings. By the time I was 12 years old,I was able to make the blend and prepare tea on my own and would make tea for everyone and mom didn’t have to ask us to make it when we had someone over. I would immediately go into the kitchen and put water on the stove to prepare  the blend and serve it. If you came to my house, you would immediately be greeted with tea. There is always tea served and it is always hot in the thermos. Friends and family who come over will ask “where the tea is at?”. They have simply gotten used to the custom and expect to get some upon arrival. This is perfect for socializing with friends and family and also signifies the importance of sharing. I come from a muslim backround and in islam we are always taught to share. In Islam there are many culture that share this same ritual.I am somali, The Gulf Aden is a geological body of water in the Indian Ocean off the coast of East Africa. Aden is an old city in Yemen. My mom told my grandmother named me Aden. I always admired  the name The Gulf Aden.