Asia

Snacks from Syria

Syrian snacking is barazek, sesame-pistachio cookies from Damascus, and halawet el jibn, cheese rolls with ashta. Booza, pounded ice cream from Bakdash in the old city, stretchy with mastic and sahlab. Maamoul. Fistik. The pastry is pistachio and sesame, not a generic baklava dump, even when baklava is also on the tray.

Updated August 27, 2026

Signature snacks: Barazek, Halawet el jibn, Booza, Maamoul
Flavor palette: sesame pistachio, cheese ashta, mastic ice cream
When people snack: barazek with tea and booza on a Damascus walk when shops are open
What travelers buy: barazek, pistachios, maamoul, halawet el jibn eaten same day

What to try first

Barazek Thin cookies coated in sesame with pistachios, a Damascene classic.
Halawet el jibn Semolina-cheese rolls stuffed with ashta cream, syrup, pistachios.
Booza Pound ice cream with mastic, famously from Bakdash, stretchy, pistachio-topped.
Maamoul Date or nut cookies for Eid, also year-round.
Baklava and knafeh The shared Levantine pastry case, still excellent in Syrian shops.
Roasted pistachios Aleppo and beyond, a handful snack.

Barazek is the cookie: sesame bottom, pistachio top, a Damascene tin. Halawet el jibn is cheese and cream, a roll, syrup. Booza is pounded until it stretches, mastic, a walk if the shop is running. Pistachios are the nut.

Pack barazek and pistachios. Cream rolls and ice cream are same-hour.

Questions about snacks from Syria

What sweets is Syria known for?

Barazek, halawet el jibn, booza, maamoul, baklava, and pistachios.

What is barazek?

A Damascene sesame cookie with pistachios, thin, served with tea.

What is booza?

A stretchy ice cream made with mastic and sahlab, pounded, associated with Damascus shops like Bakdash.

What travels?

Barazek, pistachios, and maamoul. Halawet el jibn and booza do not.

From the journal

No tasting reviews from Syria yet. This page is the research hub. When we eat something from here, the note will land in the journal and on this page.