Iranians love sweet things, as a result, they have special kinds of pastry for every occasion. Whether it is New Year’s fest or a national mourning gathering, there is always a Persian pastry or some other sweets playing a role. Almost every region in Iran has its own pastry in its local cuisine. Therefore you can get these pastries as a souvenir from each city just like the traditional handicrafts of that region.

Watching the process of making sweets in Iran is a tourist attraction itself. Local bakeries sometimes have an open workplace that visitors can watch the process and later enjoy a freshly made Persian pastry.

In this article, we’ll give you a review of the delicious pastry and desserts made in Esfahan, one of the most beautiful cities of Iran which is the destination most visitors choose to travel to.

Esfahan pastries

#1 Gaz (Persian nougat)

Persian nougat is a sweet which originated in Esfahan from the Safavid era and is the most famous souvenir of Esfahan. The name Gaz comes from the plant Gaz-Angebin (Tamarix gallica). The plant widely grows in western parts of Esfahan province and produces a sweet, honey-like substance called Manna.

Manna is the main ingredient of Persian nougat. The quality of Manna determines the value of the sweet made of it. However, as it is an expensive substance, many replace it with honey or sugar but the taste is not the same as the original one.

Other ingredients for Gaz include egg whites, nuts such as pistachio or almond and rose water.

The quality of Gaz also depends on the amount of nuts in it and is usually mentioned with the percentage of pistachio, almond or even a mix of both.

People in Esfahan serve Gaz in small slices. These slices are covered with flour or packed individually so they wouldn’t dry out.

#2 Poulaki

Poolaki is a kind of Persian candy that is made and consumed in Esfahan. It is a thin round shaped candy. The main ingredients are sugar, water and white vinegar. The mixture is heated to make a caramelized liquid and then pour on a flat surface to cool.

Different ingredients such as saffron, ginger, lemon, sesame or cinnamon can add flavour to the basic recipe. As it is a sweet candy, Poolaki is a great choice alongside Persian tea to adjust the bitter taste of black tea.

#3 Sohan-Asali

Another Persian souvenir from your visit to Esfahan can be the delicious Sohan. Sohan in Esfahan is different from those made in other parts of Iran (Ghom in particular) as it doesn’t contain flour.

Asal is Persian for “honey”, so as you would guess this Persian sweet is made of honey.

Sohan-Asali is a toffee-like sweet and its other ingredients are sugar, oil, saffron, and nuts. The most common form of it is made with almonds. The alternatives are walnut, pistachio or even sesame.

#4 Shirini-Bereshtouk

Shirini is Persian for “sweet”.

The main ingredient of this Persian pastry is gram flour and wheat flour. Other ingredients are cardamom, powdered sugar and ghee (a kind of clarified butter). The absence of egg makes this pastry light and easy to melt in the mouth.

You can find this pastry in almost every confectionary in Esfahan. However, the basic recipe is also made in other cities of Iran.

The pastry made in Esfahan is usually shaped rectangular or rhombus. Crushed nuts, pistachios, in particular, are used to design the pastry. The newer types of Shirini-Bereshtouk have chocolate in addition to other ingredients. Shirini-Bereshtouk is one of the most popular sweets for a new year’s party welcoming as it is light and small.

#5 Shirini-Korki

This sweet is much like the previous one But Shirini-Korki has rice flour in addition to other flours. Another difference is the shape of this sweet which is like small balls. After shaping the balls they are imprinted with circular lines. Iranians usually use Purslane seeds or crushed pistachios for its decoration.

#6 Nan-Ghorabi

The ingredients of this bread-like Persian pastry are much like the French Macaron. The ingredients are almond, powdered sugar, and egg white. It is hollow inside and melts in the mouth. Unlike Macaron, this Persian pastry is served singularly and without any cream in between. A few almond slices on top, decorate the pastry.

Esfahan desserts

Khoresh-Mast (yoghurt stew)

Even though it is called a stew, Khoresh-mast is a dessert, not the main course. By looking at the ingredients of this delicious meal you would find out why it is called a stew.

The main ingredients are: lamb neck meat, full-fat yoghurt, sugar, saffron, rose water and almond slices.

In traditional Persian language, Khoresh (stew) is referenced to a meal made with vegetables or meat. So the nomenclature of this dessert isn’t such a weird thing.

Because of its expensive ingredients, yoghurt stew counts as a luxury dessert in Esfahan. Yoghurt stew stays well in the refrigerator and is served cool.

The unfamiliar taste of this desert is strange for many tourists who visit Esfahan, even Iranian tourists might find it weird. But once they let themselves out of their comfort zone to try a novel taste, many tend to like this heavenly tasting dessert.

People in Esfahan use Barberry, pistachio or almond to design yoghurt stew. As I told you, this dessert is really luxurious!

These are some of the most common sweets and pastries in Esfahan, Iran. In upcoming articles, we will give you a guide to the sweet souvenirs of other parts of Iran. Until then, make sure you put tastings of these items on your Esfahan bucket list.

Photos by Atoosa Moaddab