Armenian cuisine is full of sweets. In bakeries you will find an incredible variety of baked goods that fit perfectly with tea, coffee or enjoyed separately.
There are also special types of sweets that Armenians make for centuries. They are mostly based on fruits. The method of preparation is what makes them so unique. The preparation process preserves all the nutrition of the fruits, therefore the Armenians sweets are also healthy.
Armenian mountains are very generous when it comes to fruits. There are so many fruits that locals choose the best sorts of the fruits to use for making confitures and jams. The fruits are very saturated with natural sugars and therefore there is no need to add plenty, thus having a much healthy and original product. The most common jams and confitures are fig, walnut, apricot, plum, white cherry, quince and others. Even some sorts of pine cones are used in making one of the most original confitures in the world. The biggest producers are ArtFood, Sipan, Artsakh Berry, Meghri Confiture Factory, etc. You can buy them in some special stores, supermarkets and open markets.
Even though the variety of fruits is great, the amount of each growing in the mountains is not much, because of the climate and many other reasons. Therefore, locals learned ways how to preserve fruits from a fertile year. One of the ways of preserving is to make a sweet or sour lavash. It is basically ground plum left to dry in the plain sun. You can get them in open markets and supermarkets around Armenia.
One of the most precious memory of a child is the first encounter with a lollipop. Armenians have their own kind of lollipop, called Shakaraklor (Armenian: Շաքարաքլոր). It is shaped like a rooster and can have many colors, hence the name – sugar rooster. It is generally prepared at home for children by loving mothers, however you may be able to find them in zoos or attraction parks.
Sweet sujukh is one of the most favorite snacks in Armenia. It is a very healthy and natural product. Walnut is collected on a piece of string which later is submerged in a liquid called Doshab. Doshab is a specially processed grape or other fruitsyrup and is generally considered as a drug that helps the overall health and longevity of a person. The best ones are prepared at home by skillful and experienced grandmothers. However, in the supermarkets and open markets you will find ones that are just as good. Nara Natur is one of the biggest producers.
The Armenian ice cream differs from its European siblings. It is less creamy and more refreshing. Even though you will find many varieties and flavors, the most commons are vanilla and chocolate. The forms are different too. You can have one on a stick, in a cup, as a cake, etc. There are even ice cream machines that will serve you with the delicious treat right on the spot. The major producers are Tamara, Ashtarak Kat, ASA, Grand Candy, Ani Product, ElitShant, etc. You can buy them in supermarkets, convenient stores and special selling spots around the country. You can also get ice cream in specialized stores like Scoop, BlueBerry, etc.
Armenians are proud to have one of the highest quality honey in the world. The mountainous terrain and its diverse flora is the reason behind the high quality of Armenian honey. Villagers move the beehives to fields in the spring and collect original honey in the autumn. Even though the color, taste and consistency may differ from region to region, the Armenian honey is ranked among the best in the world. The biggest producers are BeeLife, MerSarer Holding and others. There are also numerous private entrepreneurs who sell their product in open markets or at tourist attractions.
