Xawaash (pronounced Hawash) comes from the Arabic word Hawa’ij (حوائج).  Hawa’ij can be translated as ‘requirements’ or ‘essentials’.  For example, there are the essentials accompaniments for Arabic coffee, Hawa’ij al-Qahwa (حوائج القهوة).  The Hawa’ij spice mix is believed to have originated in Yemen. In the southern regions of Somalia, Xawaash refers to the spice mix that is added to…