Qamar al-Din (Apricot Paste)

Qamar al-Din is apricot paste, made from apricots that are cooked down, spread into thin sheets and dried. It is a familiar part of the table across the Levant, especially during Ramadan. Many people soak pieces of the sheet in water, then blend or stir until smooth to make a thick, sweet apricot drink, often served chilled at iftar. It is also used to make puddings and other desserts, or cut into strips and eaten as a chewy snack. At Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, Qamar al-Din is sold by the kilo. Dekenet Al Nes is a package-free grocery store, and customers are encouraged to bring their own containers or bags and take home just the amount they need, which helps cut down on plastic waste and single-use packaging.