Mouneh, from the Arabic word mana, meaning ‘to store’, and storing food in traditionnal way was essential to all Lebnaese throughout history.

 Pickling, preserving, brining, drying are different  methods for storing foods, and Ehmej is one of few villages in Lebanon where Mouneh is still a part of its traditional culinary life.

For most mouneh, it’s not the recipes that are difficult – most consist of little more than two or three ingredients – it’s perfecting the technique, something best learned by watching veterans of the trade do it over and over again. It’s the sort of cultural heirloom that people  inherit from mothers, neighbors and grandparents.