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The origin and history of oriental sweets Oriental sweets are considered one of the most delicious sweets that you can taste among all kinds of sweets around the world, thanks to the wonderful taste and nutritional value in them, in addition to being an easy-to-digest integrated meal that gives the body energy and vitality. It also plays an important role in calming the nerves and improving the mood in addition to It contains calories that activate the body and rid it of the suffering of insomnia and depression
Oriental sweets are not only limited to being food rich in sugar and delicious, but each type of it narrates the culture of the peoples who made it and invented it and added to their history and became part of the culture of these peoples. It was named by this name because of its Arab and Islamic origins in the Middle East and North Africa. Countries have always excelled The Arab world, and specifically the Levant, made oriental sweets, which added to the dishes of Arab sweets many different types, which we will talk about in detail in this topic. Oriental sweets were not limited to the Arab world only, but spread to all parts of the world and became popular with everyone.
Oriental sweets and their impact on our Arab world
The cultures of peoples regarding food and sweets are inseparable from the culture of the other society. Each society tries to establish its identity with its food culture, which is different from others and which may extend to other peoples. Food may not be liked by one people to another, but in the end food remains one of the characteristics of society. Which distinguishes it from others and reflects the cultures and customs of peoples. Hence, oriental sweets are considered one of the main dishes in Arab homes and are beloved by all our Arab peoples. The small ones in all Arab countries specialize in preparing and making oriental sweets, which enjoy a variety of varieties, shapes and tastes..The history of these sweets goes back centuries and reflects the culture of Arab people’s love for sweets and food in general
Why was baklava called by this name?
Baklava is one of the basic and beloved sweets for everyone, which has gained wide fame among various Arab countries. It consists of thin layers of dough and is stuffed with nuts such as almonds and pistachios. The word baklava is derived from the Ottoman Turkish language, and it is used in many languages with a slight difference in pronunciation and writing. The word entered the English language in the year 1650 AD, and it was said that it was a distortion of the name of the wife of a sultan of the Ottoman sultans. The Arabic name is derived from its Turkish origin, but according to the dictionary of Hans Wehr, the name for the word baklava in the Arabic language is relative to the word legumes, due to the inclusion of peanuts in the preparation of this dessert - the source
Why was Umm Ali given this name?
Umm Ali is one of the most famous Egyptian oriental sweets and is preferred by many, especially Egyptians. It usually consists of wafer leaves, nuts and milk. It also moved to many other countries because of its wonderful taste, but despite its wide popularity, have you ever wondered why it is called " Ali `s mother"? The reason for her naming goes back to a woman called Umm Ali, who is the second wife of King Izz al-Din Aibak, and the first wife was called "Shajarat al-Durr" who planned to kill her husband to take over the throne in his place, and from here appeared Umm Ali, the second wife of the king, who planned to take revenge for her husband from Shajarat al-Durr to If you killed her, and on the occasion of her killing, Umm Ali made a dish containing chips, nuts, ghee, and milk, and then she distributed it to the people in celebration of the killing of Shajarat al-Durr, and they called this dish the name of Umm Ali
Why was the kunafa called by this name?
Kunafa is considered one of the best oriental sweets that are loved by all the peoples of the Arab countries, thanks to the delicious taste and the various fillings that can be added to it. The reason for naming it goes back to the Umayyad era, when the private chef of the Caliph Muawiya kept thinking of presenting a rich dish that would help the caliph to fast the month of Ramadan at his request. , until the chef settled on that dough. The origin of this name goes back to the Circassian language, and it is called “Tishnafa”, consisting of two words “Tansha” meaning nightingale, and “Fah” meaning color, i.e. Kunafa meaning “the color of the nightingale”.
Why was Basbousah called by this name?
The Egyptians loved it, so they mastered it, and it became one of the most important dishes in Egyptian homes. The origin of basbousah goes back to the Ottoman Empire, where it was famous for its skill in making sweets and transporting them to different countries. Her work, which depends only on semolina (small balls of wheat) with ghee, is the easy way that made the Egyptians accept her work, and then she moved to the rest of the Arab countries, especially the Levant, who added different and delicious fillings to it
Why was it called Balah al-Sham?
Balah al-Sham is one of the sweets known and loved by everyone because of the wonderful taste and quick digestion. The external shape appears in the form of dates, and it is a sweet of Syrian origin. That is why it was called Balah al-Sham.
Types of oriental sweets
There are many types of oriental sweets that have spread widely around the Arab world and the world. Oriental sweets are famous for their quality, distinctive taste, and unique ingredients. They have become one of the first sweets in the Arab world. Therefore, the most famous names of oriental sweets will be identified below.
Oriental sweets in Ramadan
As we celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, we cannot forget the culinary experiences that remind us of a part of this holy month, the month of worship and giving, it is also a month full of food and recipes. All kinds of oriental sweets are prepared for the different ones that are served after breakfast in all Arab homes, which are considered a basic dish found in all Arab kitchens in the holy month.
The influence of oriental sweets in Europe
It was not only limited to the spread of oriental sweets in our Arab world, but also extended to Western society and all over the world. Of course, globalization is the main reason for that, because it is not only limited to the exchange of consumer goods and products, but the matter included more than that in the exchange of cultures and foods because the kitchen is part It is inseparable from the culture of society, and the types and recipes differ from one country to another and from one culture to another according to the geographical environment and the way of life as a whole. Naturally, oriental sweets spread to the rest of the world because they deserve it.
