Naqe'e Al Zabib


Naqe'e Al Zabib is a Yemeni beverage. It is a cold drink containing raisins.
Naqe'e Al Zabib is served fresh, and as the name implies it is made of grapes.
It has a distant ancestor in nabidh, an infusion that is made mildly alcohol from the fermentation of sugars and was consumed widely in the pre-Islamic age.
Consumption of nabidh was declared sinful in the Koran, as were wine and other intoxicating drinks.
Raisins have high levels of vitamin C and other anti-oxidants, are important sources of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and copper, and help to prevent tooth decay.
To prepare the infusion the raisins are thoroughly washed, covered in hot water, and then left to soak for three hours before being pressed through a sieve to extract the juice.
Other recipes recommend boiling the raisins
and/or soaking the raisins in the refrigerator overnight before squeezing out the juice.
Sometimes the raisins are boiled a second time after the overnight soaking.