learn to make halvain Sheki
One of Azerbaijan’s travel gems, Sheki is full of history, culture, natural beauty and culinary secrets. Speaking of which, the city is synonymous with its halva, the local take on baklava which is supersweet and consists of layers of rishta stuffed with sugar, hazelnuts, coriander, cardamom and saffron with a large covering of syrup.
It is made and sold by local family businesses whose sweet shops are colourful sights around the historic parts of the city. One such place is Yahya Halva, run by Ramin Samadov and named after his grandfather, Yahya, a famous halva maker in the Soviet period. The family has been making halva for 6 generations and today Ramin happily welcomes visitors to the family sweetshop for halva-making masterclasses. There you’ll witness and take part in all the steps to expertly craft the delicious confection, from preparing the rice dough and drizzling with honey and sugary syrup to decorating, tasting and packaging the coveted end product.
Yahya Halva is located in the stunning Historic Centre of Sheki. After visiting, make sure to fully explore this UNESCO-protected area replete with museums, landmarks, cafes and artisan shops.
