Za’atar: From Ancient Texts to Modern Conflict

Some flavors whisper of home, speaking a language rooted in place and memory. For those living in the Levant, the slightly bitter and spicy notes of za’atar have been a symbol of heritage, culture, and resilience for centuries: an indispensable herb in tenth-century cookbooks, the heart of a rich communal harvesting, and the driver of poetic emotion. In these retellings, the plant’s name, transformed through time and languages, has acted as a passport allowing the herb to cross the boundaries of geography...