Anisette, or Anis, is an anise-flavored liqueur that is consumed in most Mediterranean countries. It is colorless and, because it contains sugar, is sweeter than dry anise flavoured spirits. The most traditional style of anisette is that produced by means of distilling aniseed, and is differentiated from those produced by simple maceration by the inclusion of the word distilled on the label. And while Pastis is a similar-tasting liqueur that is prepared in similar fashion and sometimes confused with anisette, it employs a combination of both aniseed and licorice root extracts. Sambuca is essentially an anisette of Italian origin that requires a high minimum (350g/L) sugar content.
Tsipouro is an un-aged brandy from Greece and in particular Thessaly, Epirus, Macedonia, and the island of Crete. Tsipouro is a strong distilled spirit containing 40–45% alcohol by volume and is produced from either the pomace or from the wine after the grapes and juice have been separated. It comes in two types, pure and anise-flavoured, and is usually not aged in barrels, although barrel aged versions do exist.
Arak or araq is a distilled Levantine spirit of the anise drinks family. It is translucent and unsweetened.
Arrack is a distilled alcoholic drink typically produced in India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, made from the fermented sap of coconut flowers or sugarcane, and also with grain or fruit depending upon the country of origin. It is sometimes spelled arak, or simply referred to as 'rack or 'rak. It is not to be confused with the anise-flavored distilled spirit called arak or araq. In many parts of India arrack is colloquially known as "desi daru".
Najwa Karam is a Lebanese multi-platinum singer, producer, actress, fashion icon, TV personality and songwriter. Nicknamed Shams el-Ghinnieh, Karam is noted for her powerful Mawwal-skilled vocals. She has gained an international audience due to her distinct blend of traditional Lebanese music and contemporary sounds which has contributed to the spread of the Lebanese dialect in Arabic Music. Having sold tens of millions of records, Najwa Karam is the best selling recording Arabic language singers. She has sold over 60 million records worldwide, and she became the highest selling artist in 1999, 2008, and 2011. In 2023, Karam boasts a social media following of nearly 40 million followers across Facebook, Instagram and X. Karam was mentioned on Forbes 50 Over 50: Europe, Middle East and Africa 2023. She continues to frequently perform throughout the Arab world and internationally.
Lebanese cuisine is the culinary traditions and practices originating from Lebanon. It includes an abundance of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, fresh fish and seafood. Poultry is eaten more often than red meat, and when red meat is eaten, it is usually lamb and goat meat. Dishes include copious amounts of garlic and olive oil, and dishes are often seasoned with lemon juice. Chickpeas and parsley are also staples of the Lebanese diet.
Ziad Rahbani is a Lebanese composer, pianist, playwright, and political commentator. He is the son of Fairouz, one of Lebanon and the Arab world's most famous singers, and Assi Rahbani, one of the founders of modern Arabic music.
Lebanon is among the oldest sites of wine production in the world. The Israelite prophet Hosea is said to have urged his followers to return to God so that "they will blossom as the vine and fame be like the wine of Lebanon, [and] their fragrance will be like that of Lebanon". The Phoenicians of the coastal strip were instrumental in spreading wine and viticulture throughout the Mediterranean in ancient times. Despite the many conflicts of the region, the country has an annual production of about 12,000,000 bottles of wine.
Youssef Bey Karam was a Lebanese Maronite notable for fighting in the 1860 civil war and led a rebellion in 1866–1867 against the Ottoman Empire rule in Mount Lebanon. His proclamations have been interpreted as an early expression of Lebanese nationalism.
Jezzine is a town in Lebanon, located 22 km (14 mi) from Sidon and 40 km (25 mi) south of Beirut. It is the capital of Jezzine District. Surrounded by mountain peaks, pine forests, and at an average altitude of 950 m (3,117 ft), it is the main summer resort and tourist destination of South Lebanon. The town is also well-known in Lebanon for its production of handmade, traditional cutlery and daggers with decorative inlays, artisanal wine, and the shrine of Our Lady of the Waterfall.
Michael Ramzi Karam is a British/Lebanese author and journalist. He is notably the author of Wines of Lebanon, and was involved in the production of the feature-length documentary, Wine and War.
Salim Bey Karam, born on May 21, 1946, in Zgharta, Lebanon was a Minister of State in the Lebanese government. He was a Member of the 2009-2017 Parliament for the Maronite seat of Zgharta in North Lebanon.
Zahlé is the capital and the largest city of Beqaa Governorate, Lebanon. With around 150,000 inhabitants, it is the third-largest city in Lebanon after Beirut and Tripoli and the fourth-largest taking the whole urban area.
Massaya is a Lebanese winery and arak distillery owned and operated by the Ghosn brothers Sami and Ramzi. Situated in the north of the Beqaa Valley near Chtaura and Zahlé, 38 km from Baalbek, the winery and distillery are located on the Tanaïl property, which is also home to vineyards and a restaurant. The Beqaa Valley has an extensive history of viticulture dating back over 5,000 years to the Phoenicians. The northern Bekaa has traditionally been a favoured terroir for viticulture, especially since the beginning of the last century. Vines have also been introduced in the southern Bekaa as part of the recent surge in the number of wineries established in Lebanon.
The Socialist Arab Lebanon Vanguard Party is a political party in Lebanon. The party was led by Abd al-Majid al-Rafei until his death in July 2017. It is the Lebanese regional branch of the Iraqi-led Ba'ath Party. The party held its second congress in October 2011. Founders of the party included Dr. Abd al-Majid al-Rafe'ii, Jihad George Karam, Rafiq Naseeb al-Faqih,Rashid Abo Falah,Karam Mohamed al-Sahili, Hani Mohammad Sho'aib, Ammar Mohammad Shibli, Hassan Khalil Gharib and Wassef El Harakeh. Although formally affiliated to the Sunni-dominated regime in Baghdad, the majority of the party's members were Lebanese Shiites.
Al Bayrak was an Arabic language newspaper published in Beirut, Lebanon. It was one of the leading and oldest Arabic papers in the country. After being published for a century the paper closed in August 2011.
Middle Eastern cuisine or West Asian cuisine includes a number of cuisines from the Middle East. Common ingredients include olives and olive oil, pitas, honey, sesame seeds, dates, sumac, chickpeas, mint, rice and parsley, and popular dishes include kebabs, dolmas, falafel, baklava, yogurt, doner kebab, shawarma and mulukhiyah.
Tubi 60 is a citrus based liqueur and is 40% alcohol by volume. The drink is developed and produced in Israel utilizing local herbs, fruits and spices.
Fadi Haddad Lebanese music video and movies director who works with the biggest music studios in Lebanon and the Arab world such as Rotana Group and Lifestylez, and have worked with many famous Arab singers such as George Wassouf, Walid Toufic, Abdallah Al Rowaished Rami Ayach, Majid Al Mohandis, Saber Rebaï, Nancy Ajram, Diana Haddad, Assi Hellani, Najwa Karam, Fares Karam, Mayada El Hennawy, Nawal Al Zoghbi, Dina Hayek, Yara and Wael Jassar. Additionally, he worked on TV commercials for Lebanon and the Arab world for international Brands such as Samsung and MAC cosmetics. He also directed many films such as Mahraja in 2018 and "Meheret" in 2021. In 2007, he launched his own Production house Retina Films and became the first director to have his own film equipment and offer full production services and shooting studios for music videos, TV commercials and films.
