ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A Kurdish coffee brand from the 1800s has officially been trademarked in France on the Kurdish New Year, Newroz, following a request by an individual from Kurdistan Region.
The brand, Chicorée au Kurde (Kurdish Chicory), dates back to 1850 when the fruits of the terebinth tree, referred to as Qazwan in Kurdish, were harvested in Kurdish-majority areas in the Mediterranean and processed into a coffee-like beverage. The product was then exported to France, where it was marketed as Chicorée au Kurde and distributed globally by the French company Marcel Godard. Notably, the packaging often featured images of Kurdish soldiers, emphasizing its cultural origins.
“During that era, this coffee was distributed in France and other European countries until the closure of the Marcel Godard company in 1930. Later, several countries took advantage of Kurdish expertise and the unstable situation of the Kurds, marketing the coffee under their own names,” said Dashti Omer, the head of the cultural section at the French Institute in Erbil, in an interview with Rudaw on Saturday.
Chicorée au Kurde has a slightly bitter, nutty flavor. It became popular as a coffee alternative during times of coffee shortages, especially in France and New Orleans, USA.
Detailed information about Chicorée au Kurde is scarce due to a lack of records. The brand was officially registered by the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), France’s official body which manages intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks and more.
Omer, who submitted the trademark request to French authorities on November 27, 2024, sought to have Chicorée au Kurde officially recognized as a Kurdish product and to restore its rights to the Kurds. His request was approved on March 21, 2025, coinciding with this year’s Newroz celebrations. Omer remarked that this year’s “Newroz celebration turned into two occasions to celebrate.”
Kurds have maintained strong ties with France for decades. Danielle Mitterrand, First Lady of France from 1981 to 1995, was a strong advocate for Kurdish rights, earning the title "Mother of the Kurds." She played a key role in campaigning for the no-fly zone that enabled the Kurdistan Region to develop its autonomy after the Gulf War in 1991.
“Whenever the identity and origins of the Kurds are discussed, France’s name often comes up. Not only in defense and culture but also in the global recognition of Kurdish heritage, France plays a significant role - almost as if to say that France itself champions Kurdish identity,” Omer added.
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani has been invited to attend the opening of a park named Peshmerga in Paris, the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) representative in Paris said on Thursday.
The city of Paris celebrated Newroz, the Kurdish New Year, for the first time at city hall on Thursday, with Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw and Dolamari in attendance.