CBC reports on Taybeh winery of “Palestine”

Sticker covering label on Palestinian wine bottle at LCBO ‘offensive,’ says Palestinian Canadian man

Read the CBC article: Taybeh wine bottles produced prior to 2020 had sticker as ‘interim solution,’ Ontario liquor board says, by Sara Jabakhanji · CBC News · Posted: Apr 22, 2022 4:00 AM ET 

Did CBC just say “Palestine” a dozen times!

Those in Ontario over legal drinking age of 19 years can order online through the LCBO Destination program to nearest LCBO store or for home delivery.

At present, there are five flavours of Taybeh beer and three vintages of Taybeh by Nadim wine available under the LCBO Destination program.

Palestine Just Trade’s response

Sara reached out to Palestine Just Trade just after 7 PM on April 21 saying an article going to press. This was our response, some of which was reflected in the article produced.

from:Palestine Just Trade 
to:Sara Jabakhanji
date:21 Apr 2022, 20:54
subject:Re: URGENT CBC Toronto Inquiry – Taybeh Wines at LCBO
mailed-by:palestinejusttrade.ca

Dear Sara

In March 2019, as part of the LCBO’s purchase of Taybeh wine & beer under its Destination program, the LCBO approved the labels with “Product of Palestine.”  However, in late July 2019 after the Taybeh product had arrived and was ready to be released, the LCBO abruptly put it on hold. At that time, the LCBO informed Palestine Just Trade that “due to the recent decision by the Federal Court regarding labeling requirements for wines from this region, we have placed these products on hold.”


In January 2020 after holding the Taybeh products for over seven months, the LCBO said that if stickers saying “West Bank” were placed on the wine and beer products they could be released. Since that time the LCBO Destination program has made two additional purchases of Taybeh’s Nadim wine and of Taybeh beer. The LCBO has continued to require West Bank on the label. The LCBO asked with the most recent shipment that also a blank sticker be placed over the word Palestine in the product title “Taybeh of Palestine.”

Access to information requests show ambiguity about the role of the CFIA, Global Affairs Canada and the LCBO in regard to the abrupt change regarding labeling in the summer of 2019.  Our understanding is the federal government requires country or region of origin for wine, but there is no such requirement for beer. However, it seems the LCBO, perhaps under direction from the CFIA and/or Global Affairs Canada is saying that since Canada does not consider Palestine to be a state, they will not accept Palestine as a region or country of origin.


See more details in the following items from 2019:


https://www.alhaq.org/advocacy/16115.html

https://dimitrilascaris.org/2019/09/03/canadian-food-inspection-agency-defends-oppressors-victimizes-the-oppressed/


Somewhat like the CBC own journalistic standards/language guide, it seems Palestine is a word that is censored.

https://mondoweiss.net/2020/09/cbc-owes-the-people-of-palestine-an-apology/

At present there are five flavours of Taybeh beer and three vintages of Taybeh by Nadim wine available under the LCBO Destination program.

Photo from Samer’s original tweet

Check out

Taybeh is back online at the LCBO

Don’t delay. Don’t be disappointed. Limited quanities have arrived & are available to ship to your local LCBO or home!

Taybeh Beer is uniquely produced in small batches and hand crafted with state of the art equipment. This assures strict control, Batch to Batch process. Using the best ingredients that money can buy to create a beer so fresh, it can only be called TAYBEH BEER.

Check out the Taybeh Beer available at the LCBO World Destination Program by e-commerce. You can order by the bottle. Shipped directly to your home or to your local LCBO store

Order Taybeh Beer at the LCBO

Breaking News: Also watch for Taybeh at restaurants & events!

Taybeh was available at two events in 2021. Thanks to the Toronto Palestinian Film Festival and Jokermail Productions for featuring exclusively Taybeh beer!

Taybeh beer is available at the following restaurants

Levant Pizza at 899 Bloor St W, Toronto

Little Sito at 840 Bloor St W, Toronto

Check out the Taybeh Beer available at the LCBO World Destination Program by e-commerce. You can order by the bottle. Shipped directly to your home or to your local LCBO store.

All purchases are made through the LCBO, and those purchasing need to at least 19 years of age & provide proof of age of majority as required by Ontario laws.

Check out the Taybeh Beer available at the LCBO World Destination Program by e-commerce. You can order by the bottle. Shipped directly to your home or to your local LCBO store. Order Taybeh Beer at the LCBO

All purchases are made through the LCBO, and those purchasing need to at least 19 years of age & provide proof of age of majority as required by Ontario laws.

See details below

Order from LCBO: Dark Taybeh Beer

330 mL  bottle   |   LCBO#:  236959

Alcohol/Vol: 6%

Image for Dark Taybeh Beer from LCBO

Taybeh Dark uses several different roasted malts to create a redish black coloured beer with hints of chocolate and coffee. Malty and nutty with minor lingering sweetness, this dark beer is surprisingly refreshing. This medium bodied beer has a smooth body with a full robust character that has to be tasted to be believed.

Order from LCBO: White Taybeh Beer

330 mL  bottle   |   LCBO#:  237411

Image for White Taybeh Beer from LCBO

Belgian style wheat beer brewed with coriander, orange peel, hops and yeast

Order from LCBO: Amber Taybeh Beer

330 mL  bottle   |   LCBO#:  236967

Alcohol/Vol: 5.5%

Image for Amber Taybeh Beer from LCBO

Taybeh Amber beer is brewed using all natural ingredients: malted barley, hops, yeast and pure water.

Order from LCBO: IPA Taybeh Beer

330 mL  bottle   |   LCBO#:  236983

Alcohol/Vol: 6.6%

Image for IPA Taybeh Beer from LCBO

Taybeh in Arabic means delicious. India Pale Ale is an old beer style containing a large portion of hops to preserve the beer on its journey to India from the UK. Taybeh IPA is brewed using the finest ingredients of hops, malt, pure water and yeast. Taybeh IPA is a more flavourful reincarnation of that style with a strong aroma of fresh-picked hops, citrus and herbs

Order from LCBO: Golden Taybeh Beer

330 mL  bottle   |   LCBO#:  236447

Alcohol/Vol: 5%

Image for Golden Taybeh Beer from LCBO

Taybeh Golden is the first microbrewed beer in the Middle East. It is hand-crafted in small batches in German traditional style using a top fermenting yeast and cold lagering. Taybeh Golden is not too hoppy and not too malty but full-flavoured and smooth with a crisp finish. This bright and golden beer has subtle malt character with delicate hop notes.

In Conversation with Master Brewer Madees Khoury MenaCatalyst, February 20, 2020

Taybeh now available inToronto Restaurants

Taybeh beer: Dark, White, IPA, Amber, Golden

A new order of Taybeh beer has arrived to the LCBO, and is now available along on line ordering , it is also available at Levant in Toronto’s Bloorcourt Village.

Follow Levant on IG @LEVANT.PIZZA

Now also available at Little Sito  840 Bloor St W, Toronto

MAJOR NEWS, October 2, 2021

Guys, we’re super excited to announce that starting next week, Levant will be the first restaurant in CANADA to be serving a PALESTINIAN beer🍺, @taybehbeer!

Dine In, Take Out, Delivery: https://www.levant.pizza/

Several other restaurants will have product shortly.

Taybeh Beer & Wine available at selected LCBO stores across the province

Taybeh beer: Dark, White, IPA, Amber, Golden

Check out the full selection of five Taybeh beer flavours and five Nadim by Taybeh boutique vintages of wine.

For details on which LCBO stores have stock check on line being sure to search for all stores.

Taybeh beer

Nadim wine

For ease consult the PDF below.

If product is not available at stores in your area, ask the LCBO store manager if they can help you get it from another location perhaps.

Locations where product is stocked: Toronto (a number of locations), Ottawa (a number of locations), London, Collingwood, Mississauga, Georgetown, Georgetown, Hawesbury, Woodbridge, Binbrook, Pickering, Kingston, and Peterborough.

Don’t delay. Don’t be disappointed.

Looking for Taybeh beer, see the summary of locations where available & quanity as of June 14

Locations where Nadim Wine is available

For more information or help in sourcing product contact info@palestinejusttrade.ca

Wine and Beer

Taybeh Beer

Palestine Just Trade is an agent in Canada for Taybeh and Ashkar.

Palestine Just Trade imports wine from Ashkar Winery and Taybeh Winery, and Taybeh beer.

Currently, products are available at the LCBO through the World Destination Program as well as product is available through specality service/private sales.

Contact info@palestinejusttrade.ca for more more information about Taybeh and Askhar imports to Canada.

All purchases are made through the LCBO, and those purchasing need to at least 19 years of age & provide proof of age of majority as required by Ontario laws.

Ashkar Winery

Ashkar Winery is a boutique winery located on a pastoral hill in Kofor Yasif village. The winery was founded in 2010 as a continuation of a long tradition, started by the family homeland village Iqrit, which is surrounded by dozens of antique presses that were used for making wine from grapes growing in the region.

Read more below about each of the five varities available through the LCBO, or check them out at the LCBO through its World Destination Program. Products available by e-commerce, delivered to your home or the LCBO store of your choice.

Ashkar Winery is a boutique winery started by Nemi Ashkar, a second generation Palestinian of the displaced community of Iqrit. Previously an Arab, Christian village, Iqrit was seized and forcefully depopulated in 1948 and later destroyed on Christmas eve in 1951.

Nemi grew up hearing stories about the exile of his family. He sought a way to capture the very heart and soul of their beloved valley. Thus, Ashkar Winery was born and is now mother to a series of award-winning wines.  Established in 2010,  Ashkar wines are are available today for you to order and enjoy through the LCBO.

Taybeh Winery

Taybeh Winery was founded for one simple reason – to bring truly exceptional wine to the Palestinian market and abroad. We are able to achieve this by partnering with the finest growers in Palestine in order to deliver high quality wines and the highest degree of service to our customers.

Check out the Nadim (by Taybeh Winery) boutique wines available through the LCBO.

These can be ordered through the LCBO World Destination Program e-commerce channel, delivered to your home or local LCBO store.

Taybeh Beer

Taybeh Beer is uniquely produced in small batches and hand crafted with state of the art equipment. This assures strict control, Batch to Batch process. Using the best ingredients that money can buy to create a beer so fresh, it can only be called TAYBEH BEER.

Check out the Taybeh Beer available at the LCBO World Destination Program by e-commerce. You can order by the bottle. Shipped directly to your home or to your local LCBO store

.Order Taybeh Beer at the LCBO

All purchases are made through the LCBO, and those purchasing need to at least 19 years of age & provide proof of age of majority as required by Ontario laws.

Taybeh Beer is back in Stock at the LCBO

Taybeh Beer

Check out the Taybeh Beer available at the LCBO World Destination Program by e-commerce. You can order by the bottle. Shipped directly to your home or to your local LCBO store.

All purchases are made through the LCBO, and those purchasing need to at least 19 years of age & provide proof of age of majority as required by Ontario laws.

In Conversation with Master Brewer Madees Khoury MenaCatalyst, February 20, 2020

Nadim by Taybeh Winery

Check out the Nadim (by Taybeh Winery) boutique wines available through the LCBO.

These can be ordered through the LCBO World Destination Program e-commerce channel, delivered to your home or local LCBO store.

All purchases are made through the LCBO, and those purchasing need to at least 19 years of age & provide proof of age of majority as required by Ontario laws.

Taybeh’s winemaking philosophy: create top quality wines of distinction

Taybeh Winery was founded for one simple reason – to bring truly exceptional wine to the Palestinian market and abroad. We are able to achieve this by partnering with the finest growers in Palestine in order to deliver high quality wines and the highest degree of service to our customers.

Breaking News: Taybeh wine and beer available in Canada for the first time

Taybeh beer: Dark, White, IPA, Amber, Golden
Nadim Wine by Taybeh and Taybeh beer available NOW in Canada through LCBO

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 6, 2020. Toronto, Ontario and Taybeh, Palestine

“We are excited to announce that Taybeh beer and wine is now available in Canada for the first time,” said Madees Khoury, Chief Operation Manager of Taybeh Brewery and the only female brewer in Palestine.

“LCBO is one of the world’s largest buyers and retailers of beverage alcohol and recognized as having best in its class practices, and so Taybeh is very pleased to have its product featured by the LCBO.”

“People have been asking for many years when this amazing quality and distinct product would be available in Canada. Thus, it is very exciting that a full suite of Taybeh wine and beer was released by the LCBO on January 31, 2020 and is now available through the LCBO Specialty Services under its World Destination Program,” said Karen Rodman of Palestine Just Trade.

The Taybeh premium high-quality hand-crafted beer line available through the LCBO includes five styles–Dark, Amber, Golden, IPA and White. Taybeh Beer is uniquely produced in small batches and hand- crafted with state-of-the-art equipment and has been exported by Taybeh for over 12 years, including to Japan, Europe and more recently, to the USA.

Taybeh beer: Dark, White, IPA, Amber, Golden
Taybeh Beer and Wine available in Canada for first time through LCBO

Nadim Wines by Taybeh involve a winemaking technique that combines both traditional winemaking methods passed by numerous generations in Palestine and modern scientific methods.  After sorting the grapes in the vineyards, they’re checked manually, cluster by cluster, on a selection table in order to ensure only the highest quality grapes are used in the wines. The wine is fermented in state-of-the-art stainless-steel tanks at controlled temperatures. Afterwards, the wine is aged in oak barrels for a period ranging between 8 and 24 months.

The LCBO is offering five distinct quality varieties of these boutique wines.  The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Merlot, the 2017 Syrah, the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc, and 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Reserve

Taybeh Brewing Company is a family-owned business established in 1994 following the Oslo Peace Agreement when David Khoury and Nadim Khoury were inspired by their late father, Canaan David Khoury, to return to their home village of Taybeh from the  United States and establish the first micro brewery in the Middle East.

Following the success of the Khoury family in opening the only brewery in Palestine, Canaan Khoury was inspired to return to Palestine after finishing his studies in the United States to open the only boutique winery in Palestine. In 2013, Taybeh Winery was founded for one simple reason – to bring truly exceptional wine to the Palestinian market and abroad. Nadim Khoury, founder of Taybeh, says “we are able to achieve this by partnering with the finest growers in Palestine in order to deliver high quality wines and the highest degree of service to our customers.”  

“We look forward to continued imports to Canada including with the LCBO and to other provinces through other provincial agencies,” said Madees Khoury. 

The agent for Taybeh wine and beer in Canada is Palestine Just Trade an organization focused on sharing the quality and distinct products of Palestine in Canada.

To order Taybeh wine and beer visit www.lcbo.com and search for Taybeh for the beer and Nadim for the wine. 

Orders can only be made via online ordering at this time, but will be shipped to your local LCBO store.

For more information contact:

Karen Rodman, Palestine Just Trade Inc. at info@palestinejusttrade.ca

Visit:

http://taybehbeer.com/

http://taybehwinery.com/

https://palestinejusttrade.ca/

All purchases are made through the LCBO, and those purchasing need to at least 19 years of age & provide proof of age of majority as required by Ontario laws.

All purchases are made through the LCBO, and those purchasing need to at least 19 years of age & provide proof of age of majority as required by Ontario laws.

Waiting for Taybeh wine and beer.

Several people have asked who they can contact to express concern about Taybeh wine and beer being held by LCBO.

You can contact the following:

Dr. Siddika Mithani, President, Canadian Food Inspection Agencysiddika.mithani@canada.ca

Jennifer Bell Vice-President | Communications & Corporate Affairs (Liquor Control Board of Ontario): Jennifer.Bell@LCBO.com

Al-Haq Calls on the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to Release Taybeh

agent

24، Oct 2019

Al Haq release can be read HERE

Al-Haq Calls on the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to Release Taybeh Wines for Local Sale

In March 2019, Palestine Just Trade Incorporated (PJTI), a Canadian corporation, received approval from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) for the import of 5 types of beers and 5 varieties of wines from Taybeh Brewing Company, a Palestinian brewery based in Taybeh in the occupied West Bank. The labels for each of these ten Taybeh products were pre-approved before shipping by the LCBO on 28 March 2019.  The label approvals included the product origin as “Product of Palestine.” PJTI explained to Al-Haq, that in May 2019, the Taybeh products were shipped along with a consolidated order from Haifa, which included goods labeled, “Product of Israel”. At the time, the shipment represented the first ever export of Taybeh products or any other Palestinian beer and wine into the Canadian market. 

According to PTJI, the container of Taybeh beers and wines arrived in Canada on 16 July 2019, whereupon LCBO began the processing and testing of products, as per usual processes. On 2 August 2019, the Taybeh products were ready for sale to the Canadian market.[1] However on 6 August, PJTI received a message that LCBO had placed the Taybeh products on hold, due a recent Federal Court decision, whereupon PJTI immediately notified Taybeh of the delay. 

On 29 July 2019, the Federal Court of Canada ruled in Kattenburg vs. Attorney General of Canada, that illegal settlement products cannot be labeled as “Product of Israel” as Canadian law requires that consumers have accurate information to inform their purchasing decisions. Now following the ruling in this case, Canada has delayed the Taybeh imports for labeling assessment, even though these are legitimate Palestinian products.[2]  There is no indication that any Israeli products including those from settlements, illegal under international law and recognized as such by Canada, have been held for such assessments.[3]  On 6 September 2019, the Canada’s Attorney General initiated an appeal of federal court decision in Kattenberg.[4]

On 27 August 2019, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) then informed legal counsel for PJTI that it was waiting on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for further instructions on labeling.  PJTI and Taybeh continue to wait for a decision by the LCBO for release and/or relabeling of the Taybeh wine and beer.

1. Israel’s Deliberate Delays to Frustrate Taybeh Exports

Israel routinely delays and hinders the export of Palestinian products, impeding the development of Palestine’s export economy. Mr. Nadim Kanaan Daoud Khoury, the manager of Taybeh, described to Al-Haq, how Taybeh had “obtained the necessary licenses from the Palestinian Authority and from the Israeli authorities as we export through Israeli ports.”[5] However, according to Mr. Khoury, the Israeli authorities had initially refused to mix “Product of Israel” goods with “Product of Palestine.”

2. Discriminatory Application of Canadian Law

The Canadian authorities have further unduly delayed the import of Palestinian Taybeh wines and beers, despite Palestinian Authority (PA) assurances to the CFIA, “that the Taybeh products that have been placed on hold have not been produced in any Israeli settlement.”[6] Meanwhile, over 60 illegal settlement wines currently produced in the occupied Syrian Golan and the occupied Palestinian territory, yet labeled as “the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights or Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory” are being sold freely to consumers on the Canadian market,[7]highlighting Canada’s discriminatory import practices and bias rationale against Palestinian products. 

3. Legal Analysis

It must be noted that the State of Palestine, while not recognized by Canada, is internationally recognized as a non-member observer State of the United Nations and is party to over 60 international multilateral treaties.[8] In addition, following the adoption of the Oslo Accords, Canada and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) entered the Joint Canadian-Palestinian Framework for Economic Cooperation and Trade Between Canada and the Palestine Liberation Organization on Behalf of the Palestinian Authority, in recognition that “economic development is essential to peace and stability”.[9]  In this vein, the Canadian government assures that “Palestinian exports to Canada benefit from preferential treatment offered in the 1997 Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement (CIFTA)”[10] and the modernized CIFTA that came in place on September 1, 2019.[11] 

However, as a High Contracting Party to the Fourth Geneva Convention, Canada has an obligation to respect and ensure respect for the Convention.[12]  In addition, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2334 (2016), calls on States to distinguish in their dealings between the territory of the State of Israel and territories occupied in 1967. By allowing settlement producers to freely import goods labeled “the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan Heights or Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory” and delaying the import of Palestinian products labeled as “Product of Palestine”; Canada is simply facilitating the theft of Palestinian land and validating it commercially, in contravention of the Fourth Geneva Convention and UNSC resolution 2334, while denying Palestinian economic development.

Al-Haq calls on Canada to immediately release Taybeh wines and beers for import into the Canadian market without any further and undue delay, and further calls on Canada to take steps to not only ensure the accurate labeling of goods, but to prohibit the import of illegal settlement goods and services into the Canadian market, in compliance with international law.