The internet is going crazy over lavashak—have you heard of it yet?
A new type of candy is currently going completely viral on TikTok. No, not chemical junk or stuff you can use to take part in dangerous challenges. We’re talking about lavashak: a popular Persian snack. What kind of treat is it and, just as importantly, where can we buy it?
Lavashak is a Persian snack that people in Iran and the Caucasus, for example, love to nibble on. It’s colorful, flavorful and—as we already hinted—naturally produced, of course. That sounds like music to our ears. Time, then, to get to know this trendy treat better.
Lavashak: fruit roll you can snack on
Lavashak is made from pure fruit. A few years ago, FavorFlav’s Sharon brought some back from Azerbaijan; it’s also widely sold there (under the name lavashana). As a natural kind of candy, it hangs everywhere by the roadside to dry. It’s made by cooking down fruit of your choice. It’s then puréed and spread into a kind of ‘sheet’ on a baking tray. That sheet is left in the sun for quite a few hours to dry. After around 10 to 12 hours, the lavashak has developed a leathery texture. You can then bend, roll and cut it into the bite-sized roll that lavashak is known for.
Pure fruit with a few flavorings
Fruit is the basis of lavashak. Plums, apricots or cherries are usually used, but you’ll also often see pomegranate, strawberries, raspberries or berries. The idea is essentially to give overripe fruit a new purpose. So it’s a sustainable concept, because it helps prevent waste. And what better way to do that than by turning it into candy?
Fruit is the base, but flavorings are usually added as well. Salt or lemon juice are popular, but perhaps even more flavorful is the addition of spices such as sumac, saffron, cloves or cinnamon. Those spices in particular really transport you to a Persian setting.
Tip: try it with pomegranate
If you look at photos or videos of lavashak, you’ll often see it served in a bowl with pomegranate molasses and pomegranate seeds sprinkled on top. Think of that as the ‘sauce’ you dip the lavashak into. Incredibly delicious, because it adds a wonderful sweet-and-sour flavor combination as well as a crunch from the pomegranate seeds.
Where can you buy lavashak?
The flavors, the unusual leathery texture (some compare it to a chewy pancake, though not every fan appreciates that); it’s no wonder you’re seeing lavashak everywhere now. Want to try it yourself? In Amsterdam, you can buy lavashak at Roos Market supermarket on the Rozengracht, for example. Or order it from iranbezorger.nl, and have it delivered straight to your home.
Also read:
- Recipe: tabbouleh with halloumi, pomegranate and spicy almonds
- This is the difference between peaches and nectarines
- This TikTok cucumber salad is an instant hit here too
