Eid Sweets in Damascus 

In Syria, most women are used to making Sweets at home to be present for guests and for the family’s members, especially children, during Eid Al-Fitr.

Making homemade Eid sweets is one the traditions and social heritages in many governorates, including Damascus. It has spread in the country because the price of sweets from the market is very expensive.

Hind Kaadan, a 30-year-old mother told Syria Times: “Two days before Eid Al-Fitr,  I had made a small quantity of Maamoul stuffed with dates, pistachios and walnuts plus

 biscuits  to share it with my family’s members and friends, who will come to my home to congratulate me on Eid Al-Fitr.”

She enjoys making sweets at her home for this religious occasion as she can put the quantity of sugar and stuffing that she wants and she can save money. “ I learnt the way of making Eid Sweets from my mother, and I feel happy when she tells me that my sweets are delicious,” Mrs. Kaadan said.

She could not make the big quantity she used to do because of the high prices of the ingredients and the prolonged power outage. “ I need either electricity or gas to bake Maamoul and  biscuits in the oven, and neither of them is available for sufficient time. So I made a small quantity.”

The prolonged power outage and shortage of gas pushed many families to buy ready made  sweets from markets to make their children happy on this occasion.

Abo Samer Al-Khatib, an engineer, told us: “ In the past, I used to  buy at least 3-5 kilos of sweets in Eid Al-Fitr; however, nowadays, I buy a  maximum of half a kilo or several pieces for my children since the prices of sweets are out of my budget.”

The prices of sweets in local markets ranges between 40,000-190,000 Syrian Pounds.

Bader Haidar, owner of Sweets shop in Al-Midan district said: “ This Eid the turnout is good and there is a joy despite the challenges and difficult circumstances. Customers buy their needs of sweets according to their capabilities. We are trying to meet the demands of all segments, and our strategy is based on selling large quantities at the lowest possible price.”

His shop dates back to 1835 and it produces 40-50 types of sweets, including special sweets for people with diabetes and sweets sweetened with sorbitol.

Mr. Haidar concluded by saying that Haidar Sweets participate in all exhibitions abroad and it has branches in  China and an agent in Belgium.

Pistachio Mabroma, Baklava, Baloria and Aseya  are  among the distinguished Damascene sweets, whose industry dates back to pre-Ottoman period, and they flourish in the Syrian Capital (Damascus) relying on inherited experiences in this field.

These types of sweets or desserts have reached all Arab, European and American countries as they have been taken as gifts by foreign tourists or Syrian expatriates to their friends and relatives.

Interviewed by: Basma Qaddour