Taif Roses, Coffee, and Honey Festival concludes, leaving visitors thirsty for more

Taif Roses, Coffee, and Honey Festival concludes, leaving visitors thirsty for more

RIYADH: Dozens of farmers and beekeepers participated in the Taif Roses, Coffee, and Honey Festival, organized by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, and displayed their products to visitors. The festival, which was concluded on Thursday in Riyadh, welcomed farmers from across the Kingdom presenting their products to customers, most of whom are families. It is one of the biggest festivals the ministry has organized, with more than 90 farmers and producers participating. The minister, Abdul Rahman Al-Fadhli, visited the festival on the opening day and spoke to many of the farmers and beekeepers. Nora Al-Shawi, owner of Al-Shawi Apiaries, had sidr, acacia, tamarix, capparis, citrus and flower honey on show, as well as other products. She said: “We offer many transformative products from bees, such as body scrubs, burn creams, creamy tincture and Moroccan Amlou, a delicious spread made with honey and argan oil. “The hardest thing for us beekeepers is convincing the customer of our credibility and the lack of a permit from the Food and Drug Authority on our products. There is also the intense competition from imported honey in markets and stores, and its cheapness compared to local honey.” Al-Shawi, who has been working in