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Famous Labneh wrap of Shtura threatened because of drop in traffic with Syria
29-3-2018
Al Akhbar newspaper drew attention today to the famous Lebanese wraps with labneh, honey and qarisheh (cottage cheese) brands and the renowned dairy and cheese shops in Shtura, Beqaa. In its report, the newspaper spotlighted the mastermind behind the ‘arous’ concept, Jarjura Ghattas, who used to sell cheese and milk on a cart in Shtura square in 1931, but due to the town’s strategic location between the Syrian and Lebanese capitals, he throve after 9 years and opened a store which still exists to date. Ghattas was famed for the quince jam and butter sandwich which came first, followed by the labneh with olive oil and mint wraps and the honey and qarisheh wraps. In 1956, the famous Lebanese dancer who worked in Eygpt, Badi3a Masabneh, followed Jarjura’s example and opened a shop just a few meters away with her assistant, Nassar Rayyis. Masabneh’s prominence in Egypt turned the labneh shop into a forum for art, politics and culture. And finally, the scene was complete in 1961, Al Akhbar wrote, when Michel Masabki (owner of Masabki Hotel) decided to ride the wave and set up his own shop with his friend Albert Karam. However, the Syrian crisis drastically reduced to half the number of customers as a result of the drop in traffic between the two countries, Al Akhbar concluded. The first victim of this closure was Masabneh and Nassar shop which the heirs decided to shut down permanently in 2012. (Al Akhbar, March 29, 2018)
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