Nor W.
(Verified buyer)
12/13/2018
Palestinian Zaatar
I believe the product that you are selling is actually Palestinian Za'atar. Palestine was occupied by the Israelis in 1948, and along a number of national dishes, like humus and falafel were appropriated by the Israelis, just as any colonial power does. However, because Za'atar is as you explain a closely guarded recipe, it is only made and sold by Palestinians. Thyme, which is a wild herb that grows in Palestine, is used for its medicinal qualities, and for decades, Palestinians were fined or arrested for picking thyme in their own lands, because Israeli pharmaceutical companies, had obtained patents that prevent Palestinians from using it in their own dishes. The word Za'atar is an Arabic word, in addition to being used as a spice, thyme is used in salads with tomatoes, cucumber, onions, lemon and olive , and made into pastries together with olive oil and white goat cheese, it is also used for cooking, and dried thyme is often used with chicken. The Za'atar spice is eaten with olive oil, separately as an appetizer served with bread. A mixture of olive oil and za'atar spice, can be spread on pizza dough and baked in the oven.