The Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Mannar in Sri Lanka have been the center of the international pearl trade for more than 4,000 years. Since ancient times, the region has produced some of the world’s finest natural pearls, supplying the courts of the ancient kings and queens of Mesopotamia, Egypt, and later the Greek empires. , Roman and Byzantine. Kuwait was also once one of the centers of this industry in the Persian Gulf, with a history of developing the pearl industry at least four millennia. Pearl fishing in Kuwait had its heyday before the 19th century. (Source: Pinterest) Before the discovery of oil in the 1930s and extraction after World War II, the main economic activity in Kuwait and the Persian Gulf was the extraction of pearl resources mainly on the Arab side of the Persian Gulf. The history of pearl farming in the Persian Gulf goes back more than four millennia. References to this industry were made by early writers such as the Greek historian Pliny and the Roman geographer Ptolemy of the 2nd century AD. Historically, people living around the Persian Gulf, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Mannar discovered and appreciated the beauty and value of natural pearls created from mussels, opening the pearl industry. Ups and downs with history Since then, Kuwait’s pearl industry has experienced many ups and downs of history. At one stage, pearls became the main export product of the Gulf state, alongside horses, dates, timber and spices. From the early seventeenth century until the 1930s, the country’s economy was largely dependent on pearl diving off the coast of the Arabian Gulf, home to the richest reserves in the world. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Kuwait had nearly 700 pearl diving boats with a workforce of about 15,000 people. The pearl diving season usually lasts for 4 months, from mid-May to mid-September. In the remaining 8 months, traders often use ships to trade and fish offshore. It is the basis for Kuwait’s thriving maritime and shipbuilding industry. Kuwaiti fishermen regularly call at ports in the Middle East, the East coast of Africa, the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka. Historical evidence shows that Kuwaiti pearl fishermen sailed as far as Mannar Bay, between the Indian subcontinent and Sri Lanka, especially during the fishing season of these pearl fishing grounds. Natural pearls of Kuwait are thought to be caused by a combination of soil environment, water salinity, climatic conditions and accidental conditions when a small foreign object or grain of sand enters. inside the clams, mussels and stay in it. Irritated by this foreign object, the mussel creates a layer of mother-of-pearl that surrounds the intrusive sand. This process repeats for many years and creates a wonderful gem. For three centuries, Kuwait’s economy based on the pearl industry, seafaring and commerce has thrived relative to the rest of the region. It created a prosperous merchant class, but did not provide a steady income for much of the population, mainly pearl divers and supplementary workers. But there are ups and downs. The large-scale production of cultured pearls in Japan in the 1930s, and the Great Depression shortly thereafter, caused the traditional pearl industry in Kuwait to gradually decline. Pearl divers and their families are entering an unprecedented period of economic hardship. Fortunately, a promising new revenue stream has emerged. In 1938, oil was discovered in Kuwait. After World War II ended and oil extraction and exports were boosted, most of Kuwait’s population gradually emerged from its economic decline, and began to enjoy the fruits of its wealth. Pearl divers have found alternative work in the burgeoning oil industry. The pearl industry in Kuwait is also gradually disappearing… Find the return date However, even though life is full, the Kuwaiti people have not forgotten their old identity. The Kuwait Tower, one of the iconic works of Kuwait, is inspired by pearls, expressing the pride of the people about the ancient occupation of their ancestors. More importantly, the Kuwaiti government has worked to revive the natural pearl industry. Every June, Kuwait holds a month-long pearl diving festival, to pay tribute to the industry’s ancestors, who dedicated their lives to the pearl industry that formed the foundation of Kuwait’s wealth in the past year. past. The festivals also help Kuwait’s younger generation to recognize and appreciate the ups and downs that their ancestors went through in order to protect and preserve this glorious but potentially dangerous industry. Thereby, the festival also helps preserve the pearl diving tradition that has become an integral part of Kuwaiti culture. A Kuwaiti girl waits for the return of pearl divers during the 2019 Kuwaiti pearl diving festival (Photo: Gazi/Xinhua) Pearl diving in Kuwait is called “ghaus” and those who participate in diving are called “ghawawis”. Divers use traditional equipment such as “Dieng” (neck-basket), “hager” (anchor) and “fotam” (nose clip). The end of the festival called “qafal” is celebrated with traditional singing and dancing performances. The Kuwaiti public responded enthusiastically and participated in the festival, expressing their desire to preserve national traditions and culture. The festival also attracts international tourists and friends: Many are excited to take part in the diving competition after initial training. The pride of the “Kuwait pearl” also helps remind the people of Kuwait about the once glorious pearl industry of the Gulf nation. The “Kuwait Pearl” has a special design, 19th century style with the brilliant shine and ivory characteristic of natural pearls from the Persian Gulf, once incorporated by the first owner as a faceplate. necklace. The “Kuwait Pearl” has an almost perfect teardrop shape, weighs 64.35 carats, (12.87 grams), and measures 41.28 x 19.05 mm in length and width, respectively. It is known as the 6th largest natural pearl and one of the 12 rarest pearls in the world. The ‘Pearl of Kuwait’ (Source: Smithsonian Institution) The pearl’s current owner is Bond Street, jeweler Symbolic & Chase, purchased on November 24, 2004 for £150,000 ($270,000) and named it “Kuwait Pearl” in recognition. and a true reflection of the pearl’s natural origin. The sale was made at Christie’s in London from an anonymous private family consignment for auction in 2004. The “Pearl of Kuwait” is now part of the Pearl exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

“For every layer of lemongrass, there is a layer of fish, bacon, green banana, chili, fresh pepper. Add stock, soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt and fish stock for 2 hours and then rest. When it’s almost time to eat, store it again. The water is almost dry, teacher u teach braised fish twice to be delicious. The piece of fish and bacon is only when eating the outer layer is dry and solid, but the bite is soft and the mouth is happy.” Reading the description of Ms. Trang, the food-loving women in the forum were all flustered by recalling the taste of childhood and homeland hidden in the taste of rustic dishes. “I don’t know if any of you sisters are like me, but fish braised with bananas, I prefer to eat bananas than fish, that’s all!”, Ms. Trang shared. Surely this is not only the hobby of each of Trang but also of the majority of women who are familiar with food. The banana pieces, when stocked with fish, are fully absorbed in the salty, sweet, and spicy flavors and add the fleshy, ringy taste of banana powder. Make sure that when you put a plate of braised fish with banana on the tray, the banana pieces are chosen first. Here is the secret to cooking fish with bananas Resources: Fish for stock: carp (perch, fish fruit) about 1kg; Green bananas: 4-5 fruits; Galangal: 1 small tuber; Ginger: 1 small branch; Dried onions: 2 bulbs; Fresh chili: 2-3 (depending on the spiciness); Bacon: 200-300 grams; Spices: seasoning seeds, soup powder, water or cooking oil, yellow apricot sugar, turmeric powder, delicious fish sauce Making: Step 1: Preliminarily cleaned fish, cut into bite-sized pieces Bacon just washed (can be blanched in boiling water), cut into bite-sized pieces. Step 2: Marinate bacon and fish with 3 teaspoons of soup powder, 2 teaspoons of seasoning powder, a little onion, minced galangal, turmeric, fish sauce. Let the fish infuse the spices for 30 minutes. Occasionally stir or shake the fish. Galangal, thinly sliced ​​ginger. Chili to the whole fruit or cut into small pieces (depending on the spiciness that adjusts). Step 3: How to beat the sugar: Put a little cooking oil in a pan, add 3-4 tablespoons of yellow apricot sugar, the sugar will turn yellow, turn off the stove, add a little white water to get the sugar water. Step 4: Wash green bananas, leave the green skin on the outside or remove the peel depending on your preference, cut the halves into bite-sized pieces. Step 5: Prepare a thick pot, the first layer of galangal, ginger to the bottom, followed by a layer of green bananas. After the fish is soaked in seasoning, place each piece on top of the banana layer, alternating with pieces of bacon. On the top layer, add a layer of bananas, put chili on top (if you like to eat more galangal, put a little more on top). Drizzle a few tablespoons of cooking oil or grease on top. Step 6: Pour the sugar water just won the pot of fish, add water to boil the fish, lower the heat and cook until the water runs out. Taste the seasoning again to taste but do not flip the fish, if the banana, meat, fish are not cooked but the fish pot has run out of water, add a little more water and simmer until the ingredients are soft and dry. . When the fish is close to being sprinkled with a few tablespoons of water or cooking oil on top to make the fish pot more beautiful and glossy. Turn off the stove to let the fish cool, when it’s time to eat, turn on the stove again for the fish to be hot and the water must be dry.