The introduction of a product named "Mansaf Pizza" has sparked widespread debate among Jordanian activists on social media, with supporters and opponents of such an idea. The concept of the product is not new; it is a replication of an idea previously developed and implemented by Jordanian young man Zaid Sarhan, whose product became a trend within a few hours in Jordan but quickly faded due to lack of interest. Recently, this idea has been revived by one of the Jordanian restaurants.
Supporters of the idea claim it is a new and beautiful experience that should be developed and worked on to become a registered brand specific to Jordanians, similar to Italian pizza. On the other hand, opponents view it as "a waste of the dignity of mansaf," which is served as a form of Jordanian hospitality known to all peoples. The opponents believe that what the idea’s creator has done is "an insult to the status of mansaf" among Jordanians, as it represents Jordanian authenticity, while supporters see it as a unique experiment that will not last long, similar to the "Mansaf in a cup" trend that emerged in Jordan years ago, which did not gain traction.
Mansaf is on the World Heritage List and is regarded as the national dish of Jordan, its origins tied to an ancient war and historical developments. It has endured for thousands of years in Jordan, symbolizing authenticity and hospitality, and is also the preferred dish among Jordanians during Ramadan.
Mansaf, described as "the king of the Jordanian table," is made with local lamb meat, "jameed" balls prepared from local sheep's milk, clarified butter, rice, and is garnished with almonds and pine nuts. It is noteworthy that mansaf was included in December of last year on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
