Asia
Snacks from Iran
Iranian snacking is gaz from Isfahan, a nougat with pistachios and the faint tick of angelica, and sohan, Qom's saffron-butter brittle. Zoolbia and bamieh appear at Iftar, syrup coils and small doughnuts. Noon khamei cream puffs sit in bakery cases. Ajil, mixed nuts and dried fruit, is the Yalda and everyday bowl. Saffron ice cream (bastani) with pistachios is a walk.
Updated August 27, 2026
- Signature snacks
- Gaz, Sohan, Zoolbia and bamieh, Ajil
- Flavor palette
- pistachio nougat, saffron brittle, rose
- When people snack
- ajil on Yalda and zoolbia-bamieh at Ramadan dusk
- What travelers buy
- gaz, sohan, pashmak, packaged pistachios, noghl
Cities own the sweets
Gaz is Isfahan. Sohan is Qom. Pashmak is Yazd. You do not need a flavor wheel to understand Iranian candy; you need a map. The nougat should be crowded with pistachios. The brittle should smell like saffron and butter, not like generic toffee. Ajil is the unsweetened counter, a bowl of nuts that is still snacking.
Ramadan streets fry zoolbia until the syrup shines. Bastani shops sandwich saffron ice cream in wafers for a walk. Pack gaz, sohan, and pistachios. Cream puffs collapse. Do not paste a Turkish lokum paragraph onto Tehran; the yellow sohan slab is the Iranian object.
Questions about snacks from Iran
What sweets is Iran known for?
Gaz nougat, sohan brittle, zoolbia and bamieh, ajil nut mix, saffron bastani, and pashmak.
What is gaz?
A pistachio nougat from Isfahan, traditionally made with a plant sap and egg white, now often with modern nougat methods too.
What Iranian candy should I bring home?
Gaz, sohan from Qom, pashmak, and pistachios. Keep sohan from getting humid.
When do you eat zoolbia?
Especially at Iftar in Ramadan, sold by weight from street fryers, though shops sell it year-round.