Azerbaijani Sweets: Pakhlava, Shekerbura and More

Azerbaijani sweets are a reason to visit in themselves. They're made for Novruz, weddings or just tea, and every region has its own recipes.

What to try

• Pakhlava — diamonds of thin pastry with nuts, soaked in syrup and topped with saffron and a nut half.
• Shekerbura — a crescent pastry filled with nuts and sugar, patterned with special tweezers.
• Sheki halva — layers of rice-flour lace with nuts and syrup, made in Sheki to an old recipe.
• Gogal — flaky round breads with turmeric and fennel.
• Badambura — a flaky roll with almond filling.
• Mutaki — small nut rolls dusted with sugar.

Where to buy

• Patisseries in central Baku and the Old City.
• The Green Market — homemade sweets and jams.
• Before Novruz they're sold on almost every corner.

Tip

Choose well-packed boxes for travel — pakhlava and shekerbura travel well. For the holiday table, read about Novruz.