BRIAN BINGAMAN, The Reporter
The holy month of Ramadan on the Islamic calendar is observed by showing self control and reverence to God by fasting each day until sundown.
The fast also means no water, which can be problematic during the dog days of summer.
Doylestown resident Sajida Salim said that water, milk and fruit are ways her family replenishes when breaking the fast.
However according to Alam Md Alam, who works at the City of Joy grocery store in Lansdale, local Muslims prefer flavor in their fast-breaking beverages.
He pointed out popular sellers like Mamta, a mango drink; Rooh Afza, which he described as having a flavor like flowers; basil seed beverage; and very sweet young coconut juice. The powdered, orange-flavored juice mix Tang, and smoothie-like yogurt and ice beverages also hit the spot breaking the fast, he said.
"Food is the last thing at the end of the fast. We need to have big food — whatever they can get," said Montgomery Township resident Abdul Hannan.
What goes on the table in the evening is indicative of one's cultural background, said Salim, pointing out that the North Penn Mosque in Lansdale has families with Bengali, Indian, Moroccan, Egyptian, Tunisian, Saudi Arabian and Indonesian roots.
But just as the Quran, which is written in Arabic, unites Muslims regardless of where they're from, one thing that is eaten universally to break the Ramadan fast is dates.
"No matter what ... you open with dates. Dates have a lot of nutrients," Salim explained.
Dates would also work if you're a vegetarian like North Penn Mosque member Syed O.A. Kareem Afzal.
Salim added that fried foods, while not especially healthy, are satisfying. Pakora, a Pakistani dish, is a deep-fried slice of potato or a bunch of onions. She fries it in a ground chick pea batter.
In the refrigerators at City of Joy are the funnel cake-like jilabi and roso gulla, a dessert. Fried puffed rice, mixed with chana — split chick peas — is a favorite of Alam's
"After fasting, they want to eat everything that they can," he said.
Another favorite of Salim's family is biryani, a rice dish with meat. Fruit chat, which is a fruit salad, and samosa stuffed pastries also reflect her Pakistani heritage.
Source: The Associated Press
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