Iftar drink · 10 minutes
Jallab Recipe (Date, Grape and Rose Drink)
Molasses ratio. Rose water last. Lots of ice.
Recipe by Farwa ZeeshanTested in the NineFoods home kitchenJallab is the dark, smoky-sweet drink poured at iftar, made from date and grape molasses with rose water. Homemade versions turn out too sweet or flat. The fix is the right ratio of molasses to water, a touch of lemon to lift it, and plenty of crushed ice, with pine nuts and raisins floating on top.
The 3 laws of jallab
Why this recipe works
Too strong
One part syrup to about six parts water.
Boiled rose water
Heat kills the aroma.
Cubes
Crushed ice chills fast and dilutes evenly.
Shopping and prep list
Ingredients
Jallab
The NineFoods jallab gauge
Is the balance right?
Taste a spoonful before adding ice.
Method · 2 stages
Step by step
Mix
- Stir molasses and date syrup into cold water until dissolved.
- Add rose water and lemon. Use the gauge above.
Serve
- Fill glasses with crushed ice, pour jallab over.
- Top with pine nuts and raisins.
Chef's troubleshooter
What went wrong? Pick the symptom
Why
Strong ratio.
Fix next time
Add more cold water and a squeeze of lemon.
Why
Too much water.
Fix next time
Add molasses a spoon at a time.
Why
Too much rose water.
Fix next time
Use 1 to 2 tsp only.
Why
Water too cold.
Fix next time
Dissolve in a little warm water first.
Swap smart
Ingredient roles and substitutes
| Ingredient | Job in the dish | Swap with |
|---|---|---|
| Grape molasses | Body | All date syrup |
| Date syrup | Sweetness | Honey, less smoky |
| Rose water | Aroma | Orange blossom water |
| Pine nuts | Garnish | Slivered almonds |
After the meal
Serve, store, reheat
Serve with
Dates and samosas at iftar.
Store
Mixed jallab (without ice) keeps 3 days in the fridge.
Reheat
Serve cold; stir before pouring.
How we tested this recipe
Tested in a home kitchen, not a studio
Recipe developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan, who cooks and tests every NineFoods recipe on a regular home stove.
- Cooked from start to finish with the exact quantities above for 4 servings, using both the metric and US cup measures.
- Every one of the 2 stages was timed at the stove; heat levels and the 'look for' cues are what we saw in the pan.
- The doneness check (is the balance right) and the troubleshooter come from batches that went wrong, and how we fixed them.
- Reheating and storage advice was checked on leftovers, not guessed.
Keep cooking
Related recipes and guides
Quick answers
Jallab FAQ
What is jallab made of?
Grape molasses, date syrup and rose water, diluted with water and served over ice.
Is jallab the same as tamarind drink?
No. Tamarind drink is sour; jallab is sweet and smoky from molasses.
Where can I buy jallab syrup?
Middle Eastern shops sell ready jallab syrup; this recipe makes it from molasses.
Is jallab caffeine free?
Yes.