Arabica Booza

Abu Dhabi


You might hear this small kiosk serving up booza (Middle Eastern ice cream) before you see it. Staff wield a giant wooden pestle, rhythmically beating like a drum not only to attract attention but also to soften the ice cream. The original cream flavour is the hero, topped with pistachios as is traditional.

Booza is made using mastic (resin from the mastic tree) and sahlap (powdered orchid tubers), which is what gives the ice cream its distinctive chewy texture.