The first micro-brewed beer in the Middle East was brewed by Taybeh resident Nadim Canaan Khoury. He produces a high-quality premium natural beer brewed according to the German Purity Law that dictates using only natural ingredients. Today, many others brew German-style beer in the region, but master brewer Nadim Khoury made history in 1994 when he co-founded Taybeh Brewing Company. In 1997, his unique recipe was given to Germany, making Taybeh Beer the first product to be franchised and produced outside of Palestine.

In 2005, together with his brother David, Nadim introduced the Oktoberfest to Palestine with the campaign to support local products and boost the local economy during the harsh final years of the Palestinian Uprising.

 

 

Today, visitors to the ancient village of Taybeh will also find the first Palestinian family-owned boutique winery. The establishment of the Taybeh Winery is Nadim’s dream come true, since he had long wanted to give Palestine an identity in the wine world. The first grapes were crushed in August 2013 and labeled “Nadim” Merlot, Cabernet, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Zeini (after one of the 21 indigenous Palestinian grapes).

Making high-quality premium products has been Nadim’s mission since he returned from his studies in the United States with the false hopes raised by the Oslo Peace Agreement (1993). His pride and joy are not only Taybeh beer and wine; he is also very proud of his only son Canaan (a Harvard graduate, wine maker, and master brewer who just received the highest scores on the international brewing exam) and his three daughters, Madees (the only female brewer in Palestine), Nadeen, and Raneen.