Even the Zaatar that I sent to my sister Hourig was made in Aleppo. It never arrived. Well it has not arrived yet. They found the packaging without the contents and sent me a letter requesting a description of the article, its made, model, design, color and everything else I can think of to help them search for it. Including, but not limited to taking or drawing pictures.
I ate some of this by now famous Zaatar at my sister's and loved it so much that I wanted to buy some and bring it with me to Arizona, My sister gave me his bag of Zaatar which I brought back. She said she will buy some and send it to me. She called me a week later saying there is no more at the market that she used to buy it from. I told him I saw some at the middle eastern market here, did not buy it because I still had some, so I can go buy some and send it to her. She told me to wait another week so that she can check again if they have. They didn't have.
I went to the store in Phoenix and bought three bags. Two for my sister Hourig and one for me. Found a sturdy box, packed the Zaatar in it, went to the post office, addressed it, the clerk helped me tape it and we sent it off to New Jersey.
A month later the Zaatar has not reached my sister. She checked with her local post office, they did not have it either.
I got the letter from the post office yesterday and while taking pictures of the bag of Zaatar I have, I finally had time to notice that it was made in Aleppo. I was very surprised. I had thought it was made in Lebanon, that's how good it was. Me and my prejudices.
Aleppo? Couldn't it have been from Lebanon? I might not be able to taste this Zaatar again considering what is happening now in Aleppo. My senses were in uproar.
From time to time, as breakfast or snack, I find myself eating some Zaatar mixed with olive oil which is one way of eating it, the other being without olive oil. This particular brand has an incredible amount of sesame seeds in it that bring a good balance to the taste.
There is a civil war in Aleppo and our attention is drawn to it whether by choice or by accident. I will not die if I don't eat from this magical Zaatar, but this is how cultures, traditions and good things disappear.
