Malban sweets’ preparation begins in Saida with the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan. It takes more than 40 days to be prepared. According to Omar Hijazi’s conversation with Sawt Beirut International’s reporter, Sarah Chehadeh, it takes 3 to 4 hours preparation per day for over a period of 45 days to two months, in order to produce the most delicious Malban sweets.”

The most important ingredients of Malban sweets are, namely: flour, sugar and walnuts. “We have been respecting Malban sweets’ standards of preparation and ingredients since our grandfather’s time, Amin Hijazi, who has founded the business more than 65 years ago,” Omar explained.

The cost of preparing Malban sweets has doubled significantly last year. During the report, Hijazi explained the steps of preparation.

Today, a walnuts’ kilo has exceeded 100,000 LBP, while a bag of sugar has surpassed the 400,000 LBP.

Eid has no meaning in Saida without eating Malban sweets. But who’s able to afford it this year? “We sell the goods for less than its capital. In the past years, a kilo of Malban sweets was sold at 12,000 LBP. Today, it costs 100,000 LBP, but we will sell it for only 30,000 LBP,” Hijazi replied.