Petra Travel Forum

Please could someone tell me why you should not accept tea from the bedouin?

Please tell me why???

I was travelling in Petra alone and accepted several cups of tea from young Bedouin's with nothing but happy consequences - being shown areas I would never have seen otherwise, learning about living within Petra, living on the camps where most Bedouins were relocated to..... .

Maybe it is because as many of them are so poor they expect something in return?

inviting people for tea is very common all over the middle east and you should not be worried about accepting a cup of tea from people.

be aware though that this is what shop owners do too, so you will often be taken to a shop and shown what they have to offer.
donīt feel pressured to buy anything though.
itīs perfectly ok not to buy anything and there will be no hard feelings from their side.

I had not heard that and accepted tea on several occasions while in Jordan - as long as it is boiled you shouldn't worry about the water too much. I would advise having tea with them as it is an experience that might help you feel more a part of the local culture.

I had not heard that and accepted tea on several occasions while in Jordan - as long as it is boiled you shouldn't worry about the water too much. I would advise having tea with them as it is an experience that might help you feel more a part of the local culture.