Halwa Chebakia is a Moroccan sesame cookie which is folded into a flower shape, fried and then coated with honey. It’s very popular in Ramadan and is also served for special occasions. Honey-drenched sweets are popular year-round in Morocco, but in the run-up to Ramadan, they are “the bees’ knees”, literally.
Pastries of various sizes and shapes are stacked high in the Fez medina, and plastic bins for carting home—and storing—family-sized portions of the goodies hanging from stalls, awaiting holiday customers.
Sellou is a unique Moroccan sweet made from toasted sesame seeds, fried almonds, and flour that has been browned in the oven. It is traditionally served in Ramadan and for special occasions.
A roving ice cream vendor pushes his cart up the steep incline of Tala Kebira, the Medina’s High Street. He serves up soft ice cream in a choice of minute waffle cones or larger ones in psychedelic pink and green. Juice stands scattered about the medina serve up cooling glasses of fresh orange juice, peach juice, and lemonade.
This year, Ramadan comes at the height of summer. Cooling drinks and ice cream are popular now, and will no doubt be savored all the more after sunset each day in August.Ramadan for 2011 (1432 on the Islamic calendar) will run from the evening of 31 July through 30 August.
