Bastani facts for kids
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| Alternative names | Persian ice cream, saffron ice cream |
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| Type | Ice cream |
| Place of origin |  Iran (Ancient Persia) |
| Serving temperature | Cold |
| Main ingredients | Milk, cream, sugar, flavorings (e.g. fruit puree or nut paste) |
Bastani (Persian: بستنی) is a special kind of ice cream from Iran. People often call it Persian ice cream. It is also known as bastani sonnati, which means "traditional ice cream." Sometimes, it's called bastani sonnati zaferani because it often has saffron.
This delicious treat is made with milk, eggs, and sugar. It gets its unique taste from ingredients like rose water, saffron, vanilla, and pistachios. Bastani often has small, frozen pieces of clotted cream mixed in. Sometimes, a special powder called salep is added to make it thick and creamy.
A popular drink is Āb havij bastani (Persian: آب هویج بستنی). This is like an ice cream float made with carrot juice and bastani. Sometimes, people add cinnamon, nutmeg, or other spices on top for extra flavor.
History of Bastani
The story of bastani likely started a very long time ago, around 500 BCE. This was during the time of the Achaemenid Empire in ancient Persia. Back then, people would pour different syrups over snow to make cool treats. These icy desserts were called "fruit ice" or sharbat.
Usually, this ice was mixed with saffron, grape juices, and other fruits. Even the famous leader Alexander the Great, who fought the Persians, enjoyed these "fruit ices." He liked them sweetened with honey and kept cold with snow.
Around 400 BCE, Persians also created another frozen dessert. It was a sorbet made with rose water and thin noodles called vermicelli. This dessert is known as faloodeh (Persian: پالوده). After the Arab invasion of Iran, Persians shared their knowledge of ice cream and faloodeh with the Arabs.
See also
In Spanish: Bastani para niños
