Rock Sugar (Sukkar Nabat)

Rock sugar, known in Arabic as sukkar nabat, is sugar crystallized into large, clear or pale chunks. Because it dissolves slowly, many people drop a piece into a cup of tea, coffee or a hot herbal infusion instead of using granulated sugar. Some simply let a small crystal melt in the mouth, and it also appears in some traditional drinks and sweets. At Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, rock sugar is sold by the kilo from the shelf. As a package-free grocery store, we encourage customers to bring their own jars or containers and fill them with the amount they need, which cuts down on plastic waste and single-use packaging. Dekenet Al Nes is a solidarity initiative that aims to keep basic goods within reach of families and individuals, especially in hard economic times.