What is Booza, Dondurma and Kaimaki?

Booza, dondurma and kaimaki all refer to Middle Eastern ice cream (a.k.a. Arabic ice cream or stretchy ice cream). They are all made with similar ingredients and are egg-free. Unlike most other types of ice cream, Middle Eastern ice cream has a unique texture and consistency that is undoubtedly elastic, dense and creamy.

This stretchy ice cream is one of the oldest types of ice cream in history as it was invented over 500 years ago in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, it wasn’t until 2018 (when The Republic of Booza opened in New York) that it gained international visibility through viral social media videos.

What makes Middle Eastern ice cream so stretchy?

The stretchiness of this ice cream is attributed to two special ingredients: sahlab and mastic. Sahlab (a.k.a. salep or sahlep) is flour made from ground orchid root. Because sahlab can be difficult to obtain; corn starch, guar gum or konjac are sometimes used as substitutes. Mastic is a plant resin from the mastic tree and has a natural pine-like flavor.

The ingredients are mashed together inside a large mortar with a wooden pestle to create a gummy-like consistency.

Why make ice cream stretchy? Besides the fact that stretchy ice cream can be fun to serve and eat, it also helps keep the ice cream from melting immediately. This is very helpful in the Middle East, where temperatures can get uncomfortably hot.

Booza – Syrian ice cream

Booza is the traditional ice cream of Syria. Although the name makes it sound like it’s infused with alcohol, it is completely alcohol-free. What separates this ice cream from other types of ice cream around the world is its distinct texture and consistency; it’s chewy, elastic and taffy-like.

There is only one traditional flavor of booza called qashta (a.k.a. kashta or ashta). Qashta a clotted cream made with rose water and orange blossoms. It is commonly served with nuts, honey and fruit. Booza is commonly rolled up and covered in pistachios, then cut into slices.

Bakdash, an ice cream shop in Damascus (the capital of Syria), is well known for its booza and attracts tourists from all over the world.

Dondurma – Turkish ice cream

Dondurma is traditional Turkish ice cream. The literal translation of dondurma is “freezing” and its ingredients typically include cream, mastic, salep and sugar.

Turkish ice cream is said to have originated in the city of Maraş and is actually known in Turkey as Maraş Dondurmasi.

Dondurma vendors often wear traditional Ottoman costumes and playfully tease customers by playing “keep away” with the dondurma on their wooden paddle.

Kaimaki – Greek ice cream

Kaimaki or kamaki dondurma is traditional Greek ice cream. The Greeks adopted dondurma from Turkey and made it their own.

Like booza and dondurma, kaimaki is stretchy and is made with salepi (sahlab) and masticha (mastic). Masticha is a Greek product made exclusively from the island of Chios, so it is often called “Chios Mastic” and sold in bags of small pieces called “tears.”

It is often served alongside traditional Greek desserts like ekmek kataifi, galaktoboureko, karydopita or ravani.

Stretchy ice cream became an internet sensation in the US in 2018, but is only available in select cities.

Where can I find stretchy ice cream (booza, dondurma and kaimaki)?

You can find these variations of stretchy ice cream in their respective countries of Syria, Turkey and Greece. However, if you can’t make it to those parts of the world anytime soon, you can check this map to see where you can try them near you.

How can I make it?

So you want to try your hand at making some stretchy ice cream? If you want a quick shortcut, you can simply add Well, in order to do it right, you’ll need the right ingredients as well as the right equipment.

Special Tools

• mortar & pestle
• medium-sized pot
• whisk
• spatula

Ingredients

• 4 cups whole milk
• 1 tbsp sahlab (or 1/4 cup cornstarch)
• 1/4 tsp mastic
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 tablespoon orange blossom water
• nut toppings – e.g. pistachios, almonds, etc. (optional)

Directions

1. In a pot, mix the sahlab, mastic and sugar.
2. While whisking the mix, add in the milk and cream to the pot.
3. Put the pot on medium heat. Continue to whisk until simmering (until mixture is thick).
4. Remove pot from heat. Mix the orange blossom water into the pot. Pour into bowl. Allow to cool to room temperature.
5. Whisk fully and freeze 30 minutes.
6. Whisk again, and freeze again for 30 minutes.
7. Mix and fold ice cream with a spatula.
8. Repeat steps 6 and 7 until the mixture reaches desired consistency.
9. Keep in airtight container in the freezer.
10. Scoop and top with nuts. Enjoy!