A market in the Middle East is not just a place to buy fruits or veggies. Usually, it’s where the heart of a city pulses. In the markets, everything happens... food, people, culture, economy, behaviors, and beliefs. All those things can be tasted, sensed, smelled and experimented with a few steps around the stalls. That was the reason why in Tel Aviv, one of my favorite things in the city was to walk around the Shuk Ha’Carmel. The largest market of the city works day and night giving you amazing experiences, especially when it comes into food. Dates are the biggest and sweetest ones that I’ve ever tried and the hummus…yes! It tastes like heaven!
The Etrog Medicine Man
However, exploring the Shuk Ha’Carmel I discovered more than amazing tastes. One peculiar store, which is quite famous between Israelis, made my experience even more unique. The owner, known as the “Etrog Medicine Man”, is a nice talkative chubby man who says that his juices can improve your health and promote healing from many diseases. Born in Yemen, Uzi-Eli Chezi is the third generation of his family that uses the Etrog to prepare juices, sprays, and ointments for different purposes. According to Uzi-Eli, the fruit is super powerful and has more than seventy healing properties.
In the small store of the Etrog man, you can find sprays that can solve hair loss or rejuvenate the skin. The juices can also help women to have a better birth and more milk to the baby. Uzi-Eli is also famous to make a diagnosis only using his hands. People from all over the world come to this store, in the Shuk Ha’Carmel (Tel Aviv) and also in Mahane Yehuda Market,Jerusalem) to try the superpower juices that are sold by the Etrog man.
The khat juice
More than trying the superpower of the Etrog, I want to try something else. The polemical Khat Juice, which is made from Khat, a very popular plant in Yemen. Forbidden in many places of this world, including countries of Europe, the United Kingdom, and South Africa, khat is considered a drug of abuse, according to the World Health Organization.
Cultivated and used in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, khat is famous for being a powerful stimulant and also appetite suppressant. One simple glass of Khat Juice can promote excitement, euphoria, arousal, talkativeness, increased confidence, and concentration. For some, its a natural Viagra…
I try a small cup of the green liquid. It doesn't taste bad, but also not so good. I didn’t get high and even super excited … The only thing that happened is when I went back home I was extremely tired and sleep like a baby.
The Shuk Ha’Carmel is a place full of life and experiences. If you go to Tel Aviv, please don’t miss to have a walk around, and if you try Khat and have more exciting experiences than sleep, well, please leave a comment below!
(Shuk Ha’Carmel, Tel Aviv, Israel, 2017)
