Politics of the Vine: Fermenting Freedom with Rami El-Sabban
Rami sips on a glass of his wine in its preliminary stages at Mersel Winery. Dimane, Bcharreh, North Lebanon. Photo by Marwan El-Sabban. Rami, can you take us back to the beginning? Who are you, what pulled you into winemaking, and what keeps you rooted in it? Hey! I’m Rami Bassil El-Sabban, a natural, nomadic, […]
Superfood on a Mission to Save Lebanon: Behind the Scenes of the Avocado Hype
Avocado farming in Lebanon has expanded from small-scale household and local-market production to widespread cultivation driven by rising demand. Zaita, South Lebanon, 2025. Photo courtesy of Cynthia Ghoussoub. Few foods spark as much passion as the avocado. While it has become a staple item on many menus in brunch restaurants and an undeniable asset in […]
“Cedar Exodus”: EcoRove Reclaims the Narrative of the Cedar Tree
Note from Al Rawiya Team: Many in Lebanon and outside of it have a tumultuous relationship with the Cedrus libani — the infamous Lebanese Cedar tree — relating it to the narratives that many right-wing politicians inside the country or many foreign colonial and imperialist entities have promoted. Linking a variety of disciplines together in […]