My epic trip through Lebanon continued as I explored the town of Jezzine. Come with me as I check out Jezzine Waterfall and try some extreme Lebanese food in Jezzine, Lebanon!
Jezzine is a town high in the mountains, roughly a 35-minute drive east from Sidon. It was late January, and the town had just experienced some record-breaking snowfall! The town is home to some churches, a spring, and Jezzine Waterfall, the hallmark of Jezzine, Lebanon! Because of that, it’s a hotspot for nature tourism.
My guide Nico and I drove through the town on our way to the spring. I loved seeing all the snow on the ground and covering the cars! This winter was worst than others, so even they’re not used to getting this much snow.
We arrived at the spring. The water that feeds it comes from inside the mountains. I learned that the locals come here with bottles to collect fresh water. I could see why. It was fresh and ice-cold!
I highly recommend wearing boots, a scarf, and other cold-weather clothes when you come here in the winter! We left the spring and stopped at one of the smallest waterfalls in the area. It was really beautiful. There’s a spring there as well!
My hands were freezing, so we hopped back into the car and drove to Al Chalouf Restaurant to have some raw meat! The restaurant is gorgeous and has floor-to-ceiling windows on all four sides, so you get a 360-degree view of the town, the mountains, and the pine forests. It also overlooks the majestic Jezzine Waterfall!
I started with some arak, a drink made from distilled grapes and anise. It was good and strong, and reminded me of ouzo. Then, I tried some delicious mixed nuts.
I learned that there are 5 raw meat dishes in Lebanon, but they only had three here. They also had a wide selection of wines.
First, the raw meat dishes arrived. We had tebleh (plain raw lamb), kibbeh nayye with bulgur wheat, and kibbeh nayye with kamouneh (which is called frakeh). You eat them with a creamy garlic paste and pita!
The tebleh, garlic paste, and mint leaf inside the pita was really soft and tasty. I also loved the kibbeh nayye with kamouneh. Kamouneh is a rich and savory spice mixture containing cumin, cinnamon, marjoram, basil, and more.
The kibbeh nayye with bulgur also blew me away, but the one with kamouneh was insane!
Then, the owner shows us three of their red wines, including a 2015Â Saint John blend from Karam Winery, a local winery in Jezzine, Lebanon. It contains 42% merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Syrah, and 10% Cabernet Franc. They age it for 12 months in oak barrels!
It wasn’t too bold and was perfect for this chilly winter day! I tried them with their crispy dried apple chips. They’re healthy for you, as they’re dried, not fried!
Then, we headed to a nearby closed restaurant’s terrace to get unparalleled views of Jezzine Waterfall, the highest waterfall in the Middle East! It’s incredible!
It’s no wonder Jezzine Waterfall is the top attraction in Jezzine, Lebanon! It’s also among the top attractions in the country and is even more stunning in person!
Next, we drove to La Maison de la Forêt, a beautiful resort in the middle of a pine forest. They have activities, bungalows, a conference center, a restaurant, and more. I loved the atmosphere, especially the fireplace and the pine trees wrapped in lights!
There, I ordered a Lebanese coffee, which was very similar to Turkish coffee. It was nice and dark! What an amazing day at Jezzine Waterfall in Jezzine, Lebanon!
NOTE: Featured image by Wael Hneini on Unsplash
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