Mawlid sugared almonds What they cost in Bzouriyeh, and are they dearer?
Episode date: Length: 2 min 14 s
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For the Prophet's birthday (Mawlid), the Mukhtar went to the Bzouriyeh market in Damascus to check the price of sugared almonds (malbas) and party sweets, and how they vary between shops.
The short answer
In September 2025 a kilo of sugared almonds in Bzouriyeh cost about $4.5 (500 new Syrian pounds) at one shop and $5.5 to $6.4 (600 to 700 pounds) at others. A seller said the price in pounds is close to last year, but in dollars it is higher because the pound got stronger.
One seller charged about $4.5 a kilo (500 new pounds) at wholesale price and said other shops ask 600 to 700 pounds. The price depends on how thick the sugar coating is.
What about other sweets?
Prices sellers mentioned: almond lozenges (lawzineh) about $4.5 a kilo (500 pounds), mixed biscuits about $5.9 a kilo (650 pounds). Some pistachio sweets reach about $19 a kilo (2,100 pounds), depending on the pistachio.
How do you spot good malbas?
A seller said good sugared almonds have several layers of sugar and keep for more than three years.
Are they dearer than last year?
A shopper said prices are "somewhat higher than before". A seller explained that a kilo cost about 450 to 500 new pounds last year when the dollar was about 150 new pounds; the price is about the same now, but the dollar is about 110, so it costs more in dollars.
Questions people ask
How much are sugared almonds in Damascus?
In September 2025 about $4.5 a kilo (500 new Syrian pounds) in Bzouriyeh, and $5.5 to $6.4 at other shops.
How do I spot good sugared almonds?
Good ones have several layers of sugar and keep for more than three years, sellers say.
Are Mawlid sweets dearer than last year?
In pounds the price is close to last year, but in dollars it is higher because the pound strengthened, one seller explained.
We ask sellers in the market and record every price with its date, in US dollars and new Syrian pounds. How we work
The Mukhtar Al Souq team: produced by Ahmad Nahas (the show on his site) · written by Ahmad Nahas, Mazen Shbib, Ranim Shabani and Dania Halbouni · edited by Abdulrahman Al-Nassar and Abdulrahman Mulla · graphics by Wael Fayyad
The truth from the market, for the people