Founded in 2012, and inspired by the popular reception of ‘International Hummus Day’ held annually on 13 May, the Falafel has earnt its own day of recognition on 12 June: International Falafel Day. Popular both amongst the vegetarian and carnivore community, the chickpea or fava bean treat has meanwhile become a popular street food across the globe and continues to be reinvented, while remaining a staple in its Middle Eastern homelands, where many countries have claimed it a crucial component of their national cuisine. Nowadays the Falafel has been increasingly commercialized, with even McDonalds serving the McFalafel as part of their breakfast menu. Where from? What name? The falafel has a contentious history; there continues to be much speculation if not outspoken disagreement over its real geographic and cultural origins. It is often claimed an Israeli dish, when its origins clearly precede the founding of the Israeli state. Many historians however posit Egypt as the most likely birthplace of the popular dish. Within this strand of thinking, a possible theory is that the dish was first created in Egypt by Coptic Christians about 1,000 years ago, who ate it as…
Falafel or Taameya? Celebrating the Popular Dish’s Many Disguises on International Falafel Day
June 12, 2019
