Muscat Festival : The Sweet side

The dense sweet confection – halwa is a staple across the Arab world and so it is at the Muscat Festival every year.

A symbol of traditional Omani hospitality, the dessert’s key ingredients remain the same. However, most families in the sultanate have a secretly guarded recipe that makes it different from the other.

Traditional halwa-maker, Asim Abdullah Amer al Riyami who has spent 29 years in the business claims to have one such recipe. His dream is to spread the sweetness far and wide.

“The main ingredients we use include, sugar, starch and saffron. We also use rose water from Jebel Akhdar, which gives it its unique flavour. I sit in front of the fire for three consecutive hours to make 3kg of Omani halwa,” said Riyami.

But the hard work is not something Riyami is shy of. The popularity of his product and the contentment on customer’s faces is enough to forget the hardships. “I have been taking part in the Muscat Festival for the past ten years.”

Riyami’s family owns a factory in Samail. “Our factory in Samail is called Al Fayhaa. We also have a mobile factory, Al Asala that specialises in Omani halwa. We travel all over the sultanate and even to other Gulf countries. The mobile factory was established seeing the demand for Omani halwa.”

Riyami hopes to open branches of its factories elsewhere. “I hope to export my products across the world and open branches in the Gulf countries.”

Running a business is not easy, said Riyami but it is necessary not to be dogged down by failure. “Besides, patience and endurance I have also learnt new languages such as English, which helps me in my business.”