The best Persian desserts in the UK

Persian desserts are one of the Middle East’s best-kept culinary secrets. While most people in the UK know baklava, Persian patisserie goes far beyond honeyed pastries — focusing instead on floral aromas, saffron, pistachio and rosewater.

Unlike heavily sugary Western desserts, Persian sweets are delicate, fragrant and designed to be eaten with tea.

Here are some of the most loved traditional Persian desserts you can find in the UK.

Saffron Ice Cream (Bastani Sonnati)

Often called the national dessert of Iran, saffron ice cream is unlike anything sold in British supermarkets.

It is infused with:

• real saffron

• rosewater

• pistachios

The flavour is creamy but aromatic ... almost halfway between gelato and kulfi. Traditionally it’s served with wafers or sometimes inside warm flatbread.

Artisan producers such as ourselves, Persian Kitchen, make small-batch saffron ice cream using real saffron strands rather than artificial flavourings, which gives it its distinctive golden colour.

Faloodeh (Persian Sorbet)

Faloodeh is one of the world’s oldest recorded desserts — dating back over 2,500 years.

It consists of:

• frozen vermicelli noodles

• lime juice

• rosewater syrup

It is refreshing rather than heavy and is particularly popular in summer or during Ramadan.

Baghlava Yazdi (Persian Baklava)

Persian baklava differs from Turkish or Greek versions.
Instead of dense syrup, it is:

• lighter

• flavoured with cardamom

• scented with rosewater

It is usually cut into diamonds and topped with pistachio powder.

Ranginak (Date & Walnut Dessert)

Made from dates, walnuts and toasted flour, ranginak is naturally sweet and commonly eaten during Ramadan. It is rich but not cloying — closer to a soft date fudge.

Persian Sweets & Tea Culture

Persian desserts are traditionally served with black tea. Sugar cubes or dates are eaten alongside tea rather than stirred in — a custom called “chai with ghand”.

Many UK customers are now discovering Persian desserts because they:

• are vegetarian
  

• use natural ingredients (pistachio, saffron, nuts, fruit)

Where to buy Persian desserts in the UK

Persian Kitchen is the UKs award winnning, female-founded and artisanal producer, specialising in giftable Persian desserts and saffron treats suitable for birthdays, Ramadan and Nowruz. Simply check out our online bazaar for all things Persian!

Persian desserts are not just sweets — they are part of a centuries-old hospitality tradition where offering something fragrant and beautiful to a guest is considered a sign of respect.