Buza
Business of the Month: Buza
Buza, The Ice Cream Shop that Brings People Together
Buza, which means ice cream in Arabic, is the story of a Jew and an Arab who decided that their love of ice cream can bring people together – no matter what. After all, ice cream has no borders, so why should people? It’s the story of a collaboration between Adam Ziv from Kibbutz Sasa and Alaa Sawitat from Ma’a lot Tarshiha, who opened Buza in 2012 at Tarshicha and eventually stretched to 4 more branches across the country.
The Galilee is known for its multicultural vibe, an area where Jews and Arabs live side-by-side – and Buza’s ice cream exemplifies this. The duo decided that the best way to get people together is over ice cream. “We believe that business is a bridge between communities, and bringing people together this way is natural and sustainable and just feels right,” said Adam Ziv. The diversity is apparent in the flavors as all the ingredients are local and bring together both cultures, such as nuts from Umm-al- Fahm, and pecans from Kibbutz Sasa.
At the flagship factory on Kibbutz Sasa, they have workshops, tasting classes, and families and ice cream lovers’ activities.
By treating your tastebuds to a journey through Buza’s ice cream flavors, you start to understand how both cultures live together and how their differences are blurred. Perhaps you’ll try a halva cone or cones with cinnamon and cardamom. Will you test the vibrant flavor of Beirut Nights with polenta cake and pistachio pieces – or go Turkish style with mastic, made from the resin of the mastic tree?
Buza is more than just a place that sells refreshments for hot summer days. They are also focused on spreading a message of peace and connection across Israel beyond the Galilee as they open up in other locations such as Tel Aviv. Whether it be over a scoop of Arak Lemonade in Tel Aviv’s Sarona area or during a workshop on a Kibbutz, one message is clear; ice cream is an excellent way to experience the local culture’s beauty, complexity, and love of ingredients.
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