Lavashak

Lavāshak

Type	Fruit
Course	Snack
Place of origin	Iran
Region or state	Iran
Associated cuisine	Iranian cuisine
Created by	Iranians
Main ingredients	Various dried fruits and berries
Media: Lavāshak

Lavashak (Persian: لواشک) is an Iranian sour and salty fruit leather, a thin, firm and dried layer of fruit puree or a mix of different fruit purees such as plums, apricots, or pomegranates.

Lavashak is an ancient Iranian snack that dates back thousands of years. For its preparation, a mass of cooked-down fruit is salted, pressed through a sieve, smoothed to a height of approximately two millimeters and dried until it has cooled down and is firm. Lavashak is available in Iranian cuisine in sweet, sour and sweet-sour varieties.

For generations, lavashak has been prepared in the traditional way at home. It is now also industrially manufactured.

Name

Lavashak is derived from the Persian word "لواش " (lavash). It refers to anything wide and thin that has been dried. Lavashak is also prepared from the spread and dried extract of various fruits. Lavashak is a type of concentrate. Concentrates are a wide range of foods based on fruit extracts. It is a natural, traditional, ancient and delicious concentrate. Lavashak has been used since ancient times as a method to preserve fruits over time.

History

A Stall Selling Lavashak in Tehran, Iran.

The first works of Lavashak in the Iranian region goes back to the Achaemenid period (550-330 BC). During this era, Lavashak was used as a lasting food item during military and commercial journeys. In ancient times, Persians used to make lavashak from large seasonal fruits to use them throughout the year.

During the Medieval era, Lavashak was known as one of the popular and popular snacks in celebrations and religious ceremonies. These dried fruit oils were used as a symbol of happiness in occasions and celebrations.

In the Qajar era, lavashak production and consumption grew as a small industry in Iran and new methods were invented to produce and supply Lavashak to the markets. During this time, Lavashak was used as a popular gift in celebrations and family events.

By the 20th century, with the introduction of modern technology and new methods of production and packaging, the lavashak industry in Iran reached a higher level. Large lavashak production companies entered in this period and lavashak became known as a popular Persian food item abroad.