Modern Kermanshah is an important agricultural and a burgeoning industrial center. In the surrounding country fruit of many kinds is grown; another local product is sugar-beet. One of the noticeable and important buildings of Kermanshah is its large and ancient market (bazaar), and its primary structure is related to the Qajar period. This bazaar is adorned in a splendor style. The goods available here are: local colored apparel, handicrafts like: giveh (a local foot-ware), shoes, carpet, Kilim, wooden kitchenware, leather and felt and hand-woven articles, cookies

By definition, a cookie can be any of a variety of hand-held, flour-based sweet cakes, either crisp or soft. Each country has its own word for "cookie."The earliest cookie-style cakes are thought to date back to 7th century Persia A.D. (now Iran), one of the first countries to cultivate sugar (luxurious cakes and pastries in large and small versions were well known in the Persian Empire).

According to historians, sugar originated either in the lowlands of Bengal or elsewhere in Southeast Asia. Sugar spread to Persia and then to the Eastern Mediterranean. With the Muslim invasion of Spain, then the Crusades and the developing spice trade, the cooking techniques and ingredients of Arabia spread into Northern Europe.

The most famous traditional cookies made in Kermanshah city are called "Rice Doughnuts" or “Kolooche Berenji”. If you are a visitor of Kermanshah, most probably you want to bring some of these tasty cookies for your beloved ones.There are many pastries in the town because this city export all kinds of cookies to all of cities in Iran and other countries."Naan e Berenji" (Rice bread) is the more Important in other of cookies.

Candied sugar has its origins in India and Iran (Yellow Rock Sugar, alternatively known as rock candy)

Persian Rice cookie (or Naane Berenji) originates from the Kermanshah region of Iran. They are pure delight for anyone, because they are made from rice flour. These delicious little cookies melt in your mouth and are just perfect to nibble on with your afternoon tea.According to "Tehran Times", export of cookies and chocolates by March 20, 2005, marking end of Iranian calendar year of 1383, would earn as much as $100 million for the country. (Secretary of Iran's Biscuits, Cookies and Chocolates Guild Ali Movahed)      

Sound: Tango to Evora (The Visit)

Pictures: Sanda Foişoreanu

Nicoleta Leu Arangement: Sanda Foişoreanu

Iran