Kleicha (Arabic: الكليچة‎) may be considered the national cookie of Iraq. Kleicha come in several traditional shapes and fillings. The most popular are the molded ones filled with dates (kleichat tamur). There are also sweet discs (khfefiyyat), as well as half moons filled with nuts and sugar (kleichat joz).

They are usually flavored with cardamom and sometimes rose water, and glazed with egg wash, which may sometimes be scented and coloured with a little saffron.

[edit] Etymology

The ancient Mesopotamians were known to make similar cookies called qullupu, which were known to be round in shape (qullu), also taking note that the modern term for Kleicha derives from the Semitic kull meaning whole, and the Greek kolo meaning circle, and kuklus meaning, wheel.^[1]

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Iraqi cuisine
• Arab cuisine
• Middle Eastern cuisine

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