There is nothing I like more than shopping and I just go livid if I don’t find the good stuff that I keep hunting high and low to get hold of. I was so gutted to learn that Iraq’s top-notch henna, locally known as Fao, is now out of stock. Unlike the Indian and Iranian dubious imports, which have taken the Iraqi market by storm, Fao is simply the best; 100 percent organic, zero additives and although the pack is not glossy, it gives the best results a henna addict can ask for.
Luckily I have a few grams to see me through my stay in Baghdad!
Apparently henna is not the only Iraqi product that has faced extinction. Date was also doomed, thanks to the advent of Iranian imports. Before my return, all my co-workers, who were shopping for presents to their families, thought I was the luckiest given that my destination is THE land of palm trees that is, in theory, abounding with quality dates, often sold at outrageous prices! For me this brown little thing is staple food, a kind of medication that I cannot do without. I’ve tasted all sorts of dates of different origins – I must admit the Kuwaiti aces all and Iraq’s ranks second only in my opinion –ours is still excellent! Most Iraqi houses have grown palm trees in their gardens. My family thought it was a bad idea because palm trees are known as being magnets for humongous scary rats, so they gave it a miss and have been begging for good dates ever since!
I don’t mind imports. In fact I think it’s a good sign that Iraq is now more open to the world. I’m not business savvy but I think successful businessmen listen to their customers and live up to their needs, and what I need is homegrown henna and dates!
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