Mlabbas Lawz (Sugar-Coated Almonds)

Mlabbas lawz, known in English as sugar-coated almonds or Jordan almonds, are whole almonds wrapped in a hard, smooth shell of sugar. In Lebanon they are a familiar sweet for happy occasions. They are offered to guests at weddings, engagements, baptisms and the birth of a baby, and they often appear on the table during Eid and other family gatherings. Many people serve them in a small dish alongside coffee, or wrap a few in tulle or small boxes as favours for guests. Mlabbas lawz can be found by the kilo at Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf. Dekenet Al Nes is a package-free grocery store and solidarity initiative, so customers are encouraged to bring their own jar or bag and fill it with the amount they need, cutting down on single-use packaging.