A SWEET SUCCESS STORY: A Baghdad juice shop celebrates 66 years in business

The family’s shop, in the heart of Baghdad, has been going for 66 years.

The founder of the business, Haji Ubaid, began his venture with a single glass bottle of raisin juice on Al Rasheed Street. His commitment to purity and quality — he only ever sold products without artificial colours or flavours — laid the foundation for what has become a busy attraction for locals.

Ubaid’s nephew, Aqeel, 45, now carries on the tradition at the store, Zabeeb Haji Ubaid.

“A true Baghdadi never changes his profession,” Ubaid says. “This dedication to our craft is what has kept us going from my uncle’s time until today.”

Demand means that the store now has additional branches in other parts of the city too, in Al Bayaa, Al Wathba and Al Yarmouk, and there are further plans for expansion, even beyond Baghdad. The shop also carries other juices now, including pomegranate and tamarind.

The honey used in the shop’s products is sourced from the family’s own hives in Dohuk and they also have several varieties of honey, depending on where it comes from — the mountains or in clover. The honey and fruit is harvested and stored in Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan before it is brought to Baghdad.

Aqeel explains how juice is made. The process begins with washing the raisins brought from Sulaymaniyah, then grinding and soaking them in water for an hour, and finally straining the liquid to make juice, then adding the honey.

The shop has also become renowned for the health-giving properties of its natural products.

Dhuha, a 20-year-old student, recounts how she overcame anaemia thanks to the store’s juice and believes it may also boost her memory when studying for exams.

Um Aziz, an elderly woman with diabetes, was advised to drink juice with clover honey by her doctor, she says.

Ubaid says he’s happy to  recommend various kinds of honey that can help with different health conditions.

Of course, it hasn’t always been easy. After the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein in 2003, the store was forced to close altogether for two months.

But interestingly, climate change is actually helping the store because, as Ubaid explains, “milder winters have allowed us to continue serving our customers all year round.”

“Our success lies in maintaining the authenticity of our craft while embracing necessary innovation,” Ubaid explains the secret of the business’ success and longevity. “Authenticity and tradition is priceless.”