Lebanese candies (Malban)

October 15, 2010  •  Category:

 

Roasted pistachios: This  is the most common  purchase prior to  leaving Beirut; so much so that the Customs officer in the States would frequently  say ” Did you bring  pistachios?” upon glancing at my passport.


This time, I was rushed and half the city’s roads were blocked due to security measures for a highly publicized presidential visit;  I did not have time to stop by my favorite nut roaster so I opted for a box of assorted malban and marzabein from Goodies.

Just what ismalban?

Malban resembles fruit jelly, except it is traditionally made with grape molasses, thickened with starch and flavored with rose water, mastic or orange blossom and stuffed with pistachios.

Malban these days is covered with amardeen (apricot paste) or rose petals or crushed pistachios, even chocolate!

It is found at  most Arabic sweets makers, along with other confections like marzabein (marzipan), which is usually stuffed with pistachio paste.


Comments

34 Comments  •  Comments Feed

  1. Bria @ WestofPersia says:

    Ahhh, heavenly sweets. Safe travels, my dear.

  2. Ivy says:

    All of the candies sound amazing.

  3. deeba says:

    Questions from customs that sound so familiar, LOL! Love the candy Joumana. Ever so intruguing.. mmm!

  4. Amber @Almost Vegan says:

    These look amazing! The “jelly” description reminds me of Turkish Delight a little.

  5. Rosa says:

    They look very< addictive! I love Middle eastern sweets.

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  6. Simon says:

    I love your blog. We are big fans of Middle Eastern food especially sweets! Keep it coming.

  7. Joanne says:

    This is one sweet treat I know I would love, as I am a HUGE fan of pistachios. Now if I only I could find a way to procure it here in the US…

  8. Susan says:

    Oh darn, I was so hoping for a recipe 😉 These sound wonderful and I am a huge fan of pistachios. The apricot paste and chocolate combined with pistachios must taste heavenly!

  9. A Canadian Foodie says:

    I love everything Lebonese… especially the sweets…
    I was hoping for recipes, but these are not so easy, maybe?
    🙂
    Valerie

  10. Eve@CheapEthnicEatz says:

    Love those deserts but did not know there name. Have a recipe on how to make them?

  11. Tina says:

    When my Husband came back from a visit to Lebanon our relatives sent these back with him!!! We had to hide them as our oldest boy loves them.. So so so Yummy!!!

  12. Lyndsey says:

    Love the photos. Some of these look like mooncakes. I was just in a Middle Eastern store yesterday looking for some things form your blog. I did pick up some rosewater and tahini, and saw many pistachio candies and didn’t know what kind to get. I now know you probably can’t go wrong! Yummy!

  13. Sushma Mallya says:

    these look so pretty…

  14. Katerina says:

    I know these sweets some Lebanese friends brought them when they were visiting Greece. They taste fantastic.

  15. Lentil Breakdown says:

    Ooh! Looks like Turkish Delight! I need to find some of that here in the States. I finished all the boxes I brought back from Turkey (sniffle, sniffle).

  16. Dee says:

    These sweets seem so organic & truly beautiful. I cannot imagine a more perfect sweet either with tea or at the end of a meal. Wonderful! Thanks for sharing.

  17. The Nervous Cook says:

    That last photo sure did make my mouth water!

  18. James Walsh says:

    Thank you for your visit and your kind words. I love the flavors of your blog and visit it quite often. I was hoping to find a way to make a shawarmah at home. From what I recall it is a lebanese dish. Am I right.

  19. SYLVIA says:

    Everyone flips for these ultimate Lebanese addictive sweets. Elegant end to any meal. Joumana, can you order them on line?

  20. Nadji says:

    Il y a possibilité d’avoir au moins l’une de ces recettes????
    Bon dimanche et à bientôt.

  21. pierre says:

    les gros plan sur ces bonbons c’est …mortel!!!Pierre

  22. Priya says:

    Wowww super tempting candies..

  23. Jamie says:

    This is exactly the kind of “souvenirs” we buy when on vacation. I don’t know what I would do to protect such luscious treats from custom agents. Oh I did buy my husband and gorgeous (and costly) date mustard in London several months ago that was confiscated by customs! Boo hoo that was horrilble. Anyway, these candies look fabulous!

  24. Christine @ Fresh says:

    I would love to be in a place where pistachios are abundant, it’s such a versatile nut. These desserts look sensational.

  25. James Walsh says:

    Thank you. I don’t know how I missed that post on your site.

  26. Murasaki Shikibu says:

    Reading and looking at the photographs of these candies is making me drool.

  27. delphcotecuisine says:

    absolutly yummy.
    lovely and delicious blog too
    bises from France
    Delphine

  28. Jacquie chorley says:

    How long do they last for I bought my box on 3rd February will they be OK to eat now?

  29. Glenda Risinger-Champagne says:

    Looking for Altina’s pistachio-stuffed marzipan, sold in Lebanon…o Hamrat Street.

  30. Nock code says:

    Thanks for sharing this informative content. Its really impressive and helpful for us.
    Arabic Sweets in Dubai

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