How To Recognize The Best Baklava? - Hafiz Mustafa 1864 (2024)

Baklava has been enjoyed for centuries in many countries around the world. It is a decadent and delicious dessert with layers of paper-thin phyllo dough, nuts, and sherbet. But not all baklava is crafted equally. Some are prepared with low-quality ingredients and additives, while others are crafted carefully to create exceptional baklavas.

At Hafiz Mustafa, we pride ourselves on baking baklava that is not only delicious but also of the highest quality and completely organic. Our phyllo dough is crafted with a unique blend of flours from three different cities, and our chefs carefully measure each phyllo layer’s thinness to create the perfect texture. Our skilled chefs, all graduates of Hafiz Mustafa academy, work tirelessly to craft thousands of layers daily to ensure that each batch of baklava meets our strict standards for quality and taste.

One of the secrets to our baklava’s success is our use of organic butter, which gives it an unparalleled rich and flavorful taste. We also use only the best pistachios and walnuts, sourced from the finest growers, and never use additives or colorants. Our baklava is sweetened with beetroot, and we never use glucose syrup, commonly found in many other commercial brands.

Many details require mastery in baklava baking, such as rolling out the phyllo 40 layers, adjusting the temperature of the sherbet well, oven-quality and baking time, and resting time according to the type of baklava.

We have been baking baklava for over a century and a half, and during that time, we have perfected our craft. Our production facility in Dubai uses state-of-the-art equipment, but our methods are still rooted in tradition and attention to detail. We start baking early in the morning and work tirelessly to ensure that each batch of baklava is made fresh and delivered promptly to our customers worldwide. We take hygiene seriously and ensure that our production facility is always kept clean and our ingredients are carefully sourced and handled. We never compromise on quality, and every batch of baklava undergoes rigorous quality controls at every product.

At Hafiz Mustafa, we never keep stock, and all of the baklavas seen in our branches are baked ”today”. For those who order from our online site, we will bake their baklavas and deliver them fresh. This means every bite of our baklavas is bursting with freshness.

If you want a genuinely exceptional baklava experience, look no further than Hafiz Mustafa. With a century and a half of experience, our baklava will surely delight your taste buds and leave you craving more.

You can tell authentic baklava by the sound of its crunchy texture, the golden color, and the plumpness of the pistachios and walnuts inside. It should never leave a burning sensation in the throat or stomach; you should smell the plain butter. When you touch the baklava with a fork, it is a sign of a stale baklava if it is too soft or the phyllo falls apart. A baklava phyllo layer baked to the right consistency should not fall apart when touched with a fork. Original baklava should fall apart directly in your mouth after you bite it.

How To Recognize The Best Baklava? - Hafiz Mustafa 1864 (1)

Pistachio Density in Our Baklavas

Hafiz Mustafa 1864 | Centennial Desserts

Aligning Sobiyets on The Tray

Hafiz Mustafa 1864 | Centennial Desserts

How can I distinguish authentic baklava from its imitations?

You can tell authentic baklava by the sound of its crunchy texture, the golden color, and the plumpness of the pistachios and walnuts inside the layers. It should never leave a burning sensation in the throat or stomach; you should smell the plain butter. When you touch the baklava with a fork, it is a sign of a stale baklava if it is too soft or the phyllo falls apart. A baklava phyllo layer baked to the right consistency should not fall apart when touched with a fork. Original baklava should fall apart directly in your mouth after you bite it.

Genuine baklava phyllo should be crafted by hand, transparent thin, and baked in the right oven. So you should hear a rustle when you stick your fork into it. This means you are eating quality baklava. In addition to the appearance, the amount and color of the pistachio and walnuts should be noticed immediately. The layers should have plenty of pistachios or walnuts. The top and bottom phyllo’s thickness and proportions should be crafted well. The phyllo should be thin and baked to perfection, so you can hear rustling when you stick your fork into it. The plain butter should be organic. When you taste the baklava, you should feel the lightness of the plain butter. Because the palate is infallible, it can notice the difference immediately on your behalf.

Unfortunately, many fake baklava producers use sunflower seeds instead of walnuts and peanuts colored with food coloring instead of pistachios. These baklavas do not have the same taste, texture, or quality as authentic baklava. The color of the baklava should be golden yellow, and the amount and color of pistachios or walnuts should be immediately recognizable.

How To Recognize The Best Baklava? - Hafiz Mustafa 1864 (3)

Pistachio Baklava

Hafiz Mustafa 1864 | Centennial Desserts

How To Recognize The Best Baklava? - Hafiz Mustafa 1864 (4)

Baklava Wrapping Process

Hafiz Mustafa 1864 | Centennial Desserts

How To Recognize The Best Baklava? - Hafiz Mustafa 1864 (2024)

FAQs

Is Hafiz Mustafa's best baklava? ›

This probably is the best baklava you can eat, ocean away from the origin. It is certainly fresh, and full of pistachio. Not too sweet, just perfect and balanced.

Which baklava is best? ›

Pistachio baklava is the most popular and original type of baklava. One bite will have you hooked! Initially developed in Turkey and Syria, pistachio baklava is a rich and sweet pastry made of 40 thin layers of dough (phyllo) filled with ground pistachios.

What country makes the best baklava? ›

Azerbaijan - Baklava is said to have some origins in the northern caucases as well, and it's no surprise that this country is home to some of the best baklava in the world. The traditional Azerbaijani recipe uses walnuts or pistachios, and the pastry is often soaked in syrup or honey before being served.

What is the quality of baklava? ›

You can tell authentic baklava by the sound of its crunchy texture, the golden color, and the plumpness of the pistachios and walnuts inside the layers. It should never leave a burning sensation in the throat or stomach; you should smell the plain butter.

Does Hafiz Mustafa baklava contain egg? ›

We carefully source our ingredients, ensuring our baklavas are crafted naturally without glucose syrup, preservatives, or colorants. Allergen Guidance: Dear Guest, Our products may contain egg, pistachio, hazelnut, almond, walnut, almond, butter, milk, and wheat flour.

Who owns Hafiz Mustafa baklava? ›

With Mr. Avni Ongurlar, the visionary owner of the esteemed Hafiz Mustafa 1864, we delved into the rich history and innovations that define Hafiz Mustafa.

How do I choose baklava? ›

Baklava should never drip syrup when picked up or sliced into. A tray of baklava should be dry, without a gathered puddle or pool syrup. Likewise, a slice of baklava should not leak syrup onto your plate. The sugar syrup (never honey) should also not be too sweet.

What's the difference between Turkish baklava and Greek baklava? ›

While not always true, Turkish baklava ordinarily uses a light neutral oil, while Greek baklava is typically made with melted butter. Also, the Greek version is usually a walnut baklava, although almonds are sometimes used, while the Turkish version is usually a pistachio baklava.

Why baklava is so expensive? ›

"The ingredients are expensive, and we hope that our citizens can be sensitive about prices," said Mehmet Akincioglu, chairman of the Baklava Producers Committee of Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, according to local reports. Gaziantep, a city near the Syrian border, boasts a centuries-old tradition of baklava making.

Is baklava Turkish or Arab? ›

Baklava is originally from Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East, but it was brought to Hungary by Turkish invaders during the 16th century. Hungary revised it and made it part of their culture as the strudel. 2. It has strong religious roots.

Which city is famous for baklava? ›

So confident is Gaziantep of its baklava that the city recently submitted it to unesco's Intangible Cultural Heritage list, hoping it will join the recently accepted Turkish coffee.

Who actually made baklava? ›

The origins of baklava date back to ancient times. Around the eighth century B.C.E., people in the Assyrian Empire, which spread across parts of modern-day Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, Syria and Turkey, arranged unleavened flatbreads in layers, with chopped nuts in between, to be enjoyed during special events.

Should baklava be refrigerated? ›

Baklava has a really lengthy shelf life, lasting about 2+ weeks. It should be stored in an airtight container, either in room temperature or in the fridge. Storing in room temperature will preserve the crispness. If you like your baklava chewy and a bit harder, store it in the refrigerator.

Is baklava a healthy treat? ›

Healthy…

The nuts, honey, and phyllo pastry used to make baklava provide a rich source of essential nutrients, including protein, fibre, and healthy fats. Additionally, baklava may help to improve heart health, boost energy levels, aid digestion, help with weight management, and improve brain function.

What is the most common baklava? ›

Fıstıklı Baklava

This is the most common in Türkiye, it simply means pistachio baklava. It's usually cut into squares or small rectangles and sprinkled with pistachio as well as featuring chopped pistachios inside the layers of dough.

What is Hafiz Mustafa Istanbul famous for? ›

Hafız Mustafa was occupied with candy-making and confectionary during the period in which his father operated the shop and he was a volunteering muezzin in the Arpacılar Mosque at the same time. It is well known that Hafız Mustafa is the first to have found and manufactured the salty pastry called pogaca.

What's the difference between baklava and Turkish baklava? ›

They also have different shapes, Greek baklava is made in square or rectangular pans, while Turkish baklava is commonly made in a circular baking dish. The clove in the Greek confection also helps hold the baklava together while it is cut.

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