Handcrafted Zeytoun Cheese Platter

Arze w Zaytoune is a family-run Lebanese workshop based in Douma, North Lebanon, led by artisan Jihad Samia.

Its story began with a simple act of love: unable to afford a gift, Jihad carved a small heart from a discarded piece of olive wood and wrote, “I only have my heart to give to you.” That moment sparked his devotion to wood and handmade craft.

Working with local olive and cedar wood, often salvaged from firewood, the workshop crafts gifts and decorative objects that are shaped by the wood’s natural grain. With the support of his wife, Jihad continues to create pieces that travel from Lebanon to homes around the world, carrying warmth, intention, and quiet poetry.