A heritage of natural flavors in Nasiriyah passed down through generations

NASIRIYAH, November 5 — “Al-Watani Juice” has become a renowned brand in the city of Nasiriyah, cherished and passed down through three generations since its establishment by Hajj Muhammad Al-Watani over 80 years ago in the bustling vegetable market.

The Al-Watani Juice shop offers natural juice blends with secret recipes that have become beloved by their customers. These recipes have been passed down from generation to generation, and today, the details are in the hands of the grandson, Ahmed, who learned them from his father and grandfather.

Ahmed Sabaah Al-Watani, the shop owner, explained:

“We inherited this profession from my grandfather, Hajj Muhammad Al-Watani, who began preparing juice at this shop in 1940. The most popular natural juices are grape and local pomegranate from Basra. My grandfather mastered the recipe and taught it to my father, who, in turn, taught it to me. Today, no one but me excels in making it. Our business doesn’t decline much during the winter, and it’s not limited to Nasiriyah alone. We have wholesale customers from the regions of Suq Ash-Shuyukh, Sayyid Dakhil, Ash-Shatra, and Al-Bat’ha. Our prices are very reasonable, with a glass costing 500 dinars, and a plastic bottle (1.5 liters) priced at 1,000 dinars.”

Emad Mahdi, a customer, shared:

“I’ve been a customer of Al-Watani Juice, and I’ve been coming here regularly for eight years. I buy a large bottle for my family and enjoy a glass right here in front of the shop. I make the effort to come despite the crowds in the vegetable market.”