Jaffa: The Story of Palestine's Orange City
Long before it became a brand name on crates in British greengrocers, Jaffa was a Palestinian city by the sea. For centuries it was one of the busiest ports on the eastern Mediterranean, and for many Palestinians its name still means home.
An ancient port
Jaffa is one of the oldest port cities in the world, with a history stretching back thousands of years. Pilgrims heading for Jerusalem landed here, traders brought goods from across the Mediterranean, and the old town grew up on a hill overlooking the harbour.
The Jaffa orange
In the nineteenth century, Palestinian farmers around Jaffa developed the Shamouti orange, a sweet, thick-skinned variety that travelled well by sea. Orchards spread across the coastal plain, and by the early twentieth century Jaffa oranges were being shipped to Britain and across Europe. The orange became a symbol of the land and of the families who worked it.
A cultural capital
By the 1930s Jaffa was one of the largest and most lively cities in Palestine. It had cinemas, cafés, sports clubs and theatres. The newspaper Falastin, founded in Jaffa in 1911, became one of the most influential Arabic papers in the region.
1948 and after
In 1948, most of Jaffa's Palestinian population, around 120,000 people according to common estimates, fled or were forced out. Only a few thousand remained. In 1950 the city was merged into Tel Aviv. Today a Palestinian community still lives in neighbourhoods such as Ajami, and many families in the diaspora still keep photographs, documents and memories of the orange groves.
Why Jaffa still matters
For many Palestinians, the Jaffa orange stands for everything that was lost and everything that is remembered. If you are cooking with Palestinian flavours this season, our guide to Palestinian dishes to cook this autumn is a good place to start.
Our Palestine Map and Palestine Hope designs carry the same connection to the land.
FAQ
+Why is Jaffa important to Palestinians?
Jaffa was one of the largest Palestinian cities and a major Mediterranean port before 1948. For many families it remains a symbol of home and of what was lost.
+What is a Jaffa orange?
The Jaffa orange, or Shamouti, is a sweet, thick-skinned orange developed by Palestinian farmers around Jaffa in the nineteenth century and exported widely, including to Britain.
+What happened to Jaffa in 1948?
In 1948 most of Jaffa's Palestinian population fled or were expelled, and in 1950 the city was merged into Tel Aviv.
+Do Palestinians still live in Jaffa?
Yes. A Palestinian community lives in Jaffa today, especially in neighbourhoods such as Ajami.
Shop the designs in this article
Keep exploring: Shop our Best Sellers
