Arabic & Levantine Pantry Guide
What is jallab? The Levantine iced drink with rose water and pine nuts
Jallab is a dark, fragrant iced drink from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Jordan made from date or grape molasses and rose water. Poured over crushed ice and topped with floating pine nuts and golden raisins, it is a staple of the Ramadan iftar table and warm summer evenings.
What is in jallab and what does it taste like?
Traditional jallab syrup blends rich fruit reductions (typically date syrup, grape molasses, dark raisins and sometimes carob molasses) with sugar and distilled rose water. In classic Levantine preparation, the vessels or syrup are lightly perfumed with natural incense or mastic smoke, giving jallab its distinctive three-layered flavour: deep dried-fruit caramel first, cool floral rose water second and a subtle smoky finish.
How to mix and serve a glass of jallab at home
With a bottle of concentrated jallab syrup in the cupboard, making a pitcher takes less than a minute. Dilute 1 part jallab syrup with 4 to 5 parts ice-cold water and stir well. Fill tall glasses halfway with crushed ice, pour the chilled jallab over the top and scatter a spoonful of golden raisins and raw pine nuts (plus slivered blanched almonds or pistachios if you like) onto the ice cap. Serve with both a straw and a long teaspoon for scooping up the nuts.
