MAKKAH: Global and local companies specializing in dairy products participated in the Al-Saman Festival in the Northern Borders region, which concluded on Monday. The festival, deriving its name from the Arabic word for “ghee,” highlighted the diverse products of the region, which is home to the largest number of livestock in Saudi Arabia and which is famous for producing ghee. Mohammed Al-Anzi, chairman of the festival’s media committee, told Arab News that the festival draws attention to the historical legacy of ghee, which sustained generations of the region’s people. Ghee is produced in large quantities throughout the year and used in the preparation of delicious dishes, especially sweets, such as basbousa, a semolina-based cake. The six-day festival presented a wealth of knowledge, introducing the current generation to one of the most important food components that nourished Saudis and helped them survive hardships and rough conditions, Al-Anzi explained. The festival, which aimed to stimulate the economy and attract large companies, featured a number of events, including an exhibition, a cooking corner, a children’s theater, an area dedicated to folk arts and more. It also showcased historical utensils and tools, such as Al-Aaka, made of goat or sheep skin and used to preserve ghee and molasses for long periods of time in the past. Umm Saad Al-Shamlani, who has been producing ghee for the past four decades, said that in the past, she used to manufacture Al-Aaka for her relatives and neighbors, which was the only way to preserve ghee at the time.