Since last year’s Halloween was pretty much cancelled, this year I wanted to get a head start on the festivities. By festivities I mean eating all the candy, because let’s face it, I don’t get out much these days! In one year, life has gotten even more complicated, uncertain, and as of this writing who knows if there will be food on the shelves by Halloween. So I told myself I am going to seize experiences whenever possible, prioritize health, and enjoy all the things I can on my downtime (even cheat days). Coffee with a friend? Check. Long gym sessions? Check. Family mass, hikes and dinners on Sundays? Check. Eating all the candy two weeks before Halloween? It’s going down like never before.
In my latest video, I gathered all of the Arabic candy I could find from local middle eastern markets and my travels, and pooled them all together for a pre-Halloween family tasting. We wanted to pass on our knowledge of some untapped treasures, redefining what quality candy is all about to our viewers. On the tasting table was Palestinian coconut rolls, pistachio, sesame and honey bars, nougat with cardamom and rose water, halva blocks coated with nuts, caramel, or chocolate, chocolate covered whipped marshmallows, and Turkish delight, with exotic flavors like chocolate hazelnut, or pomegranate pistachio:
What I love about Middle Eastern candy, is that it is primarily made with whole foods I recognize. Yes there will be sugar, but there will also be honey, nuts and seeds, cocoa butter, and seasonings like rose water and spices from cardamom and cinnamon to clove and nutmeg. If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, some shops that have these gems are Mosaic Market in San Mateo: https://www.mapquest.com/us/california/mosaic-market-428834723 or Rose Market in Mountain View: https://roseinternationalmarket.com/#!/
Now time for the tasting! To see our full review, click on the video below, and let us know, what are your favorite ethnic candies? We would love to know in the comments below!
