With their amazing taste and aroma, traditional desserts of Iran have special place in different rituals of locals from happy ceremonies like wedding parties to religious ceremonies and funerals. Some traditional sweets of Iran are so yummy and unique that are usually bought as souvenirs by travelers as a souvenir from Iran. Below are some of the most famous traditional sweets and desserts that you should try in Iran and maybe take back home as souvenirs.
Sweets of Yazd; Best Iranian desserts
Apart from titles like the oldest adobe city of the world, and city of wind towers (Baadgir), the amazing and historical city of Yazd is known as the city of traditional sweets because of the number of active confectionary and bakeries, and the diversity of its traditional sweets that have been made in Yazd since many years ago.
Lowz
Lowz is the most famous and popular sweet of Yazd and is a diamond shaped sweet made with four different ingredients including coconut powder, pistachio powder, almond powder and Baklava paste.
Lowz
Qotab
Qotab is another traditional sweet of Yazd which is also made by the locals of Kerman. This simple yet nutritious dessert, which has been made by Yazdi women since many years ago, is a ball shaped paste filled with pistachio powder and honey, and after being baked it is coated with sugar powder.
Qotab
Sweets of Qazvin; A mate for afternoon tea
Qazvin is one of the historical cities of Iran that has been the capital of Iran during the Safavid era before Isfahan. This city has a rich culture, culinary and different traditional sweets.
Pa Derazi sweet
The Pa Derazi sweet of Qazvin (meaning: long leg!) is the most famous sweet of this city. It is an oval shaped sweet which is baked without egg, therefore it can be kept for a long time. Pa Derazi is usually baked for Iranian new year ceremony (Nowruz) by locals of Qazvin.
Pa Derazi
Ghorabiyeh of Qazvin
Although Ghorabiyeh (Qorabiyeh) sweet is made in other cities of Iran like Tabriz and Zanjan, it is originally from Qazvin. Being made with egg white and different nuts, this sweet has benefits that boosts heart, brain, and liver, and it is so nutritious that it is so good for patients with anaemia, arthritis patients and pregnant women because of being a rich resource of vitamin D.
Qorabiyeh
Sweets of Tabriz; Where Turkey meets Iran
Located in the northwest of Iran, Tabriz is home to Iranian Turks known for their tasty and nutritious foods and sweets, with similarities with cuisines of Turkey.
Kardaif
Called Reshteh Khatayi in Persian, Kardaif is a thin noodle and is prepared as a layered sweet mixed with a sweet cream. You can taste this famous sweet at the Tabriz Grand Bazaar.
Nougat
Nougat or Noogha is another sweet of Tabriz made with whipped egg white and honey, and then it is mixed with different nuts like almond and pistachio.
Nougat
Sweets of Kermanshah; Simple yet unique
With amazing natural and cultural wonders, Kermanshah is located in the west of Iran and is home to a big population of Kurdish Iranians. Here you will taste traditional sweets that are so unique and tasty.
Kaak Sweet
Kaak is not only a traditional sweet of Kermanshah, but also a famous one in whole Iran. This sweet is also made in Shiraz and it is named Yookheh there. Kaak is a layered crispy sweet made with very thin paste and sweetened with sugar powder.
Naan Berenji
Naan Berenji or rice cookie is a nutritious sweet that can be served as a snack. Although rice cookies might be found in many places, the one made in Kermanshah tastes different because of the organic oil which is a main ingredient.
Nan Berenji
Sweets of Bushehr; essence of date
Located in the south of Iran by the Persian Gulf, Bushehr is warm city with vast palm tree gardens named Nakhlestan, and is a big producer of dates. Date has a special place in culinary of southern cities of Iran.
Ranginak
Ranginak is a very nutritious dessert which is a popular dessert on Iranians dining table and their ceremonies. This dessert consists of dates filled with walnut and topped with a paste made with flour, oil, and cinnamon.
Ranginak
Legeymat
Legeymat or Legheymat is a simple yet popular sweet among locals of southern cities of Iran. This sweet is a deep fried paste ball which is sweetened by dates and that is why it is so nutritious especially for kids.
The 11 day Iran Food Tour of PackToIran offers a wonderful experience of exploring the taste of Iranian cuisines from north of Iran to south of Iran. On this special Iran tour, you will learn about recipes of different foods, sweets and dessert and you’ll enjoy Iranian hospitality while having memorable meals with locals in different cities.
