Booza is often considered to be the worlds oldest ice cream. It originated in the eastern part of the Mediterranean at around 1400 AD (Steussy). This encompasses the modern day levant region (Khoury-Hanold).

Booza is a ice cream that is stretchable ice cream (Khoury-Hanold). This is because it is made with Sahlab which is ground orchid root, and mastic, which is a common ingredient in chewing gum (Khoury-Hanold). Traditionally, only milk is used besides these ingredients (Ramzi). Booza is also not churned as other ice creams are, but put in an ice-cold drum where it is pounded with a wooden pestle then stretched by hand (Khoury-Hanold). Fig.3. Woker at 'Republic of Booza', preparing the ice cream Fig.1. Fig.2.

booza

the levant

history

how it's made

different flavours of booza booza ice cream being stretched
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