Qamar al-Din — apricot-leather drink and dessert of Ramadan
Qamar al-Din — "moon of religion" — is both an ingredient and a dessert. The ingredient is dense sheets of apricot leather, made by spreading apricot purée out in the sun until firm. The dessert is the leather soaked and dissolved into a thick, tangy apricot drink served chilled at Ramadan iftar.
i. Origin & history
Apricot leather has been made in Damascus for centuries — Syrian apricots are particularly prized — and the city's qamar al-din is treated as the canonical version. The dessert is most strongly associated with Ramadan, where it is one of the first things broken-fast Muslims reach for, alongside dates.
ii. Ingredients
Makes 6 servings · scroll the side panel to adjust
- 250 g apricot leather (qamar al-din sheets)
- 1 litre water
- 100 g caster sugar (to taste)
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp rose water
- 60 g pine nuts
- 60 g almonds, slivered
- 1 tsp orange-blossom water
iii. Method
- Tear the apricot leather into small pieces. Soak in 1 litre cold water overnight until softened.
- In the morning, blend or whisk vigorously until smooth. Strain if needed.
- Stir in sugar to taste, lemon juice, rose water and orange-blossom water.
- Chill thoroughly. Serve in tall glasses topped with pine nuts and almonds.
iv. Tips & common mistakes
- Use the freshest ingredients you can. The recipe relies on them.
- Read the method through first. Several steps must be ready in advance.
- Season patiently. Sweetness and salt are tuned at the end, not the start.
v. Variations
Some Syrian versions thicken it further with cornstarch and serve as a pudding rather than a drink. Modern hot qamar al-din warms the drink for cold weather. Qamar al-din with cream floats a spoon of qishta in each glass.
vi. Common questions
What is qamar al-din?
Qamar al-Din is apricot-leather drink and dessert of ramadan, from middle eastern cuisine. The ingredient is dense sheets of apricot leather, made by spreading apricot purée out in the sun until firm
Where is qamar al-din from?
Qamar al-Din is from the middle eastern dessert tradition; the recipe and history are detailed above.
How long does qamar al-din keep?
See the storage note in the Quick facts panel: 3 days refrigerated.