Q 01/05

Arak, the Lebanese national drink, is flavoured with what?

A) Anise

B) Mint

C) Cardamom

D) Rose water

Answer · why

A) Anise

Anise. The seeds are crushed and distilled with a grape spirit, and their oil is what gives arak its faint liquorice taste: ouzo, raki and pastis belo...

Q 02/05

Meghli, a spiced rice pudding, is traditionally served to celebrate what?

A) A wedding

B) A newborn baby

C) The grape harvest

D) A new home

Answer · why

B) A newborn baby

A newborn baby. Visitors who come to see the child are each handed a bowl topped with nuts and coconut, and Christians make it again at Christmas to m...

Q 03/05

Which empire ruled Lebanon from 1516 to 1918 and left its mark on Lebanese sweets?

A) The Persians

B) The Byzantines

C) The Ottomans

D) The Mamluks

Answer · why

C) The Ottomans

The Ottomans. Four centuries of Turkish rule brought baklava-style pastries and made lamb more popular; the French, who governed next, left flan and c...

Q 04/05

Toum, the fluffy white sauce served with Lebanese grilled chicken, gets its punch from which raw ingredient?

A) Horseradish

B) Garlic

C) Ginger

D) Onion

Answer · why

B) Garlic

Garlic. Toum is simply the Arabic word for it; pounded with salt and whipped with oil and lemon, the cloves turn into something as thick and white as ...

Q 05/05

Which Lebanese street food is a deep-fried ball of ground beans and herbs?

A) Kibbeh

B) Falafel

C) Sambousek

D) Kafta

Answer · why

B) Falafel

Falafel. The beans are only soaked overnight before grinding, never cooked: tinned ones hold too much water, and the balls would fall apart in the hot...