Habaq: Wild Mountain Tea Herb

There are a wide range of medicinal and aromatic herbs growing wild in the valleys, and Bedouins know the medicinal values and uses of each. Many used in teas, either added to black tea or boiled alone, for the aromatic taste. The most common ones, such as habaq, a delicious tea herb, are often grown in small kitchen gardens and you will find them in most of the retreats.

Unfortunately some of the species are endangered, but now there are efforts being made to study and preserve them by different organizations and institutions. There are 481 different species of medicinal plants listed in South Sinai, according to the Medicinal Plants Conservation Project.

Traditional indigenous knowledge is also fading, but there are still some well known and respected herbalists. Haj Ahmed, a traditional healer – known as hakim – looks after a herbal garden in Wadi Itlah and runs a school for local Bedouin kids to transfer his knowledge. You can stay at his garden retreat, called El Helwa Garden, or visit it along a Garden Tour.

His brother, Mahmoud Mansour, runs a project for drying organic herbs, along with fruits and vegetables.