Samanu ( / ''samanu''; ), Samanak ( / ''samanak''), Sümelek ( / / ''Syumelek''), Sumanak (), Sumalak ( ) or Sümölök ( ) is a sweet paste made from germinated wheat (young wheatgrass) and wheat flour, which is prepared especially for

Nowruz Nowruz (, , () , () , () , () , Kurdish language, Kurdish: () , () , () , () , , , , () , , ) is the Iranian or Persian New Year. Historically, it has been observed by Iranian peoples, but is now celebrated by many ...

(beginning of spring) in a large pot (like a

kazan Kazan; , IPA: Help:IPA/Tatar, ɑzanis the largest city and capital city, capital of Tatarstan, Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Volga and the Kazanka (river), Kazanka Rivers, covering an area of , with a population of over 1. ...

). This practice has been traced back to the pre-Islamic

Sasanian Persian Empire The Sasanian Empire (), officially Eranshahr ( , "Empire of the Iranian peoples, Iranians"), was an List of monarchs of Iran, Iranian empire that was founded and ruled by the House of Sasan from 224 to 651. Enduring for over four centuries, th ...

. Although Samanu is prominent for "

Haft-Sin Haft Seen or Haft sin () (lit: "Seven S's") is an arrangement of seven symbolic items whose names start with the letter "Shin (letter), س" (pronounced as "seen"), the 15th letter in the Persian alphabet; "haft" (هفت) is Persian language, Persi ...

" (the seven symbolic items traditionally displayed at Nowruz), the preparation "mela" (referring to a picnic) and eating it is traditional in

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...

. The wheat is soaked and prepared for days and so the entire process takes up to a week. Traditionally, the final cooking would take from evening until the daylight and was a party involving only women. This would be full of laughter and music and singing related songs. In Iranian tradition the whole gathering, mostly women, gather near the huge pot. They sit in a circle, sing songs, and have fun, each of them waiting for their turn to stir the sumalak. While stirring the samanak, wishes can be made. Also, whole

walnut A walnut is the edible seed of any tree of the genus '' Juglans'' (family Juglandaceae), particularly the Persian or English walnut, '' Juglans regia''. They are accessory fruit because the outer covering of the fruit is technically an i ...

s are thrown in near the end of the preparation while making a wish. In the morning still warm sumalak is handed out to neighbors, relatives and friends. In

Tajikistan Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital city, capital and most populous city. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, south, Uzbekistan to ...

and

they sing: ''Samanak dar Jūsh u mā Kafcha zanēm – Dīgarān dar Khwāb u mā Dafcha zanēm''. (meaning: ''"Samanak is boiling and we are stirring it, others are asleep and we are playing daf"''). In modern times, making Samanu can be a family activity. Traditional Samanu is made entirely of germinated wheat and water (no other ingredients). Nowadays, it is common to add a bit of flour to speed up the thickening process, although this makes the paste taste somewhat bitter and less sweet.

Samanu trade

In Iran, cooking and selling Samanu in the last days of the year has become a kind of seasonal trade, referred to the city of Ashtian, which is produced, sold and exported to European, Arab and East Asian countries. It has become Samanu business and has been called the Samanu city of Iran.

References

{{Cuisine of Iran, dessert Azerbaijani cuisine Iranian desserts Afghan cuisine Tajik cuisine Wheat dishes New Year foods Central Asian desserts Halva Uzbek dishes

Samanu trade

See also

References