Sobia is the most popular drink in Ramadan which is sold everywhere and nearly around every street corner. People wait for Ramadan to invest their money in the Sobia selling business. People as young as 15 years old and as old as 50, poor and rich sell Sobia during the holy month. The price per bag of Sobia ranges between SR5 and SR10. There are two kinds of Sobia. One is colored red that is made of raisins and other mixtures from Attarah stores selling natural scent, to add flavor. The other is white in color and it is made of barley after it is socked with water and Al-Kadi and rose water added to it.
Majed Al-Malawi said, “Sobia is the spirit drink of Ramadan. I love to sell Sobia from Aser prayer until Maghreb before Iftar. I make it at home and sell at SR10 per bag. I am not selling Sobia to earn money, although I make between SR150 to SR200 per day. I am trying to spread the Ramadan spirit by selling it on the street. I love to see people gathering for Sobia and buying it because it means Ramadan has started. Sobia must be at every Iftar table; if there is no Sobia at Iftar table, it means that family is not having a real Ramadan table. Selling Sobia requires a loud voice as the salesman hollers out his wares urging people to come and buy it. I hate to see people walking with no Sobia bag in their hand”.
“I do not drink Sobia, in fact I do not like its taste. However, I love to see it sold in the street in Ramadan. Ramadan would not be Ramadan if I do not see the colorful bags sold on the street. I love to hear them shouting and yelling at motorists to come and buy it. I understand that people are doing it for fun. Some are doing it to make a good profit. I know people in my family who drive to special stores in Makkah from Jeddah every day to buy Sobia. I find this strange, but then I know that it is the Ramadan spirit”.