Hibiscus Za'atar

Za'atar has always been more than an herb blend — it’s a story of land, culture, and connection. Rooted in the Levant, it’s found on kitchen tables from Palestine to Lebanon and beyond, each version carrying its own history, identity, and love for the land.

Today, za'atar has crossed borders and continents, appearing in home kitchens and restaurants around the world. To me, that mirrors the world we live in — one shaped by migration, memory, and shared ingredients. Food has a quiet way of holding both tradition and evolution at once.

Za'atar is both the name of an herb and a seasoning.  For Palestinians in particular, za'atar is more than food; because of this, it’s an act of identity and resistance. The wild thyme (or hyssop) grows in the same hills where families have lived for generations. Harvesting or selling it has, at times, been restricted — turning something as humble as an herb into a political symbol.

This is my own twist on the traditional Levantine blend. Now, I never travel without a good bottle of olive oil, a tin of Hibiscus Za'atar, and the hope of stumbling upon some freshly baked bread. And if you’ve watched Mo on Netflix, you’ll understand why that’s a perfectly reasonable way to live.