✓ Tested in Faten's kitchen
The quintessential Lebanese summer drink: dark grape juice and rose water syrup poured over crushed ice, topped with floating pine nuts, golden raisins, and a dusting of crushed pistachios. Sweet, floral, cold, and unmistakably Beirut.
⏱ 10 min🍽 4 servings📍 Lebanese coast
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The story
Jallab is the Lebanese summer. In July and August in Beirut, street vendors wheel carts of glass pitchers filled with dark, glistening jallab through every neighborhood, and the sound of ice being crushed is as much a summer sound as cicadas. It is sold at every juice stand, every café, every corner kiosk from Hamra to Gemmayzeh. But jallab is also the drink of the Lebanese diaspora's most important ritual: Ramadan. In São Paulo — home to the largest Lebanese population outside Lebanon, estimated at over 5 million people of Lebanese descent — Lebanese-Brazilian families prepare pitchers of jallab every evening during Ramadan to break the fast. The same scene plays out in Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Dearborn, Sydney, and Lagos: jallab appears on the table and Lebanon appears in the room. Pine nuts on top are non-negotiable.
Frequently asked questions
What is Jallab?
The quintessential Lebanese summer drink: dark grape juice and rose water syrup poured over crushed ice, topped with floating pine nuts, golden raisins, and a dusting of crushed pistachios. Sweet, floral, cold, and unmistakably Beirut.
Where is Jallab from?
Jallab comes from Lebanese coast. Sofra documents this recipe as part of its 214-recipe Lebanese and Syrian heritage collection, including 49 dishes from Idlib province.
Is Jallab vegetarian or vegan?
As written, Jallab uses only plant-based ingredients, so it is suitable for both vegetarian and vegan diets. Always double-check the full ingredient list against your own dietary needs.
What do I serve with Jallab?
In a Levantine drinks spread, Jallab is served as a refreshment on its own, warm or chilled as the recipe directs.
Can I make Jallab ahead, and how do I store leftovers?
This can be made ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator. Stir or shake before serving, and adjust sweetness or dilution to taste.
Hear every step read aloud
Step-by-step audio narration (text-to-speech) guides you hands-free. Charbel Rouhana's original oud plays during Cooking Mode.
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