Jordan by MasterChef Travel

With influences from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Iraq and the Bedouin tribes, Jordanian fare uses varied cooking techniques to create delicious and succulent cuisine.

Most meals are made with a mixture of herbs and spices, garlic, onion and lemon, creating aromatic and layered flavours.

Meanwhile, mealtimes in Jordan are regarded as time for celebration; food binds the family and brings communities closer together. Inviting guests to enjoy a meal shows off the Jordanian spirit of generosity and hospitality, encapsulating the character of this energetic and friendly country.

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Eat like the Bedouins
Experience a traditional Bedouin meal cooked in a zarb – this underground pit is stuffed with meat and vegetables, covered with sand and left to slow-cook for several hours.

Dine on the national dish
Known as mansaf, this national dish consists of lamb cooked in a sauce of jameed, a fermented dried yoghurt with the consistency of hard cheese, served with rice or bulgur.

Munch through a mezze
Sharing a meze is one of the best ways to try a selection of local dishes, usually including hummus, ful medames, falafel, baba ghanoush, tabbouleh, olives and pickles, along with a side of bread.

Olive Jordan
As the largest producer of olives in the world, Jordan’s cooking normally includes olive oil. Enjoy olive oil tastings, or experience the range of olives Jordan has to offer.

Enjoy sweet kanafeh
A syrupy sweet desert, kanafeh has roots from the Ottoman empire. Pastry is heated in oil, spread with soft cheese and more pastry, then drizzled with sugar syrup and rose water, and sprinkled with pistachios.

Soak up the souks
One of the best ways to experience Jordanian life is by wandering the local food and shopping markets. Stuffed with delicious good and local handicrafts, you’ll never run out of things to do or see.

Experience the historic capital
Take a walking tour to explore the famous sites, including the Roman theatre – built around 161AD it can seat 6,000 spectators – and citadel hill, home to the Temple of Hercules and more.

Discover Petra by candlelight
The beautiful rose city is even better by night. Walk through the Siq, lit up by candlelight, and enjoy a cup of sweet tea while listening to traditional music played on the oud.

Head on a desert exploration
Adventure to the desert of Wadi Rum in a 4x4 vehicle, stopping off at the ‘valley of the moon’. Home to many cultures over the course of history, see petroglyphs left by the Nabateans, and enjoy the spectacular desert scenery.

See the mosaics of Madaba
With history stretching back to biblical times, Madaba is known for its intricately designed Umayyad and Byzantine mosaics, including a map of the surrounding regions, created in the sixth century.

Location: Located in the Middle East, Jordan is bordered by five countries and the Dead Sea.
Capital: Amman
Religion: Islam (95%), Christian (4%)
Etiquette:

  • Dress code is quite conservative, with long sleeves and high necklines as well as loose-fitting clothing being the norm.
  • Jordanians are very socially interactive and will often spend time greeting acquaintances like long-lost friends, and may think of you as rude if you do not stop for small talk and numerous handshakes. Take time to learn some local greetings and don’t be afraid to interact yourself.
  • Public displays of affection between couples are not the norm
  • If invited to dinner, do not eat all the food that is in front of you; it can be an insult to your host who is responsible to keep your plate full.

Languages: Arabic
Population: 7,930,491 (approximately)
Size: 89,342 sq km
Time Zone: GMT +2
Currency: Jordanian dinar (JOD)
Visa requirements: Holders of British citizen passports require visas and can obtain these on arrival.
History: Jordan’s history has been influenced by numerous kingdoms of rule. The more notable include the Nabatean kingdom that created the ancient city of Petra, the Romans whose influence can be seen today on Capitol Hill, and the Byzantines, who left their mark in Madaba. In the 11th century, Jordan (then known as Transjordan) suffered an unstable period, where it was the battlefield for the Crusades. It was part of the Ottoman empire from 1516 to 1918, when Sherif Hussein of Mecca led a revolt against the empire, helped by a young TE Lawrence. The country was officially renamed Jordan in 1948, following independence from the British state in 1946. King Abdullah was also named the first king of modern Jordan in 1946, and his great-grandson King Abdullah II is the current reigning king.

What to read

Petra: The Rose Red City
by Christian Auge

Discover the secrets of Petra in the detailed illustrations of this guide, written by the excavator Christian Auge and archaeologist Jean-Marie Dentzer.

Married to a Bedouin
by Marguerite van Geldermalsen

A fascinating story of how a New-Zealand born nurse fell in love with a Bedouin souvenir seller, and lived with the Manajah tribe (and her family) in the ancient caves of Petra.

What to watch

Lawrence of Arabia
Based on the life of TE Lawrence in Arabia during the first world war, this epic British film features the spectacular desert landscape of Wadi Rum.

MasterChef Travel does not currently have these tours; but we do have some excellent culinary tours you might be interested in. Do take a look!

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