The short answer
Basbousa is a classic Middle Eastern semolina cake, soaked in sweet syrup and often scented with rose or citrus. At Qahwtea it is one of more than thirty from-scratch treats, baked fresh daily alongside baklava, honey cake and Dubai chocolate, drawing on Arabic, Russian and European traditions.
What is basbousa?
Basbousa is a beloved semolina cake found across the Middle East and North Africa. Tender and a little grainy from the semolina, it is soaked after baking in a fragrant sugar syrup, which keeps it moist and gives it its signature sweetness. It is humble, comforting and made for sharing.
The bakery behind it
Basbousa is just one of more than thirty treats our bakers make from scratch every day. The range draws on Arabic, Russian and European traditions, so a single counter might hold basbousa beside baklava, honey cake, cream puffs and our from-scratch Dubai chocolate.
From scratch, every day
Making sweets from scratch is slower and harder than buying them in, and it is exactly why ours taste the way they do. Fresh ingredients, handled with care.
What to pair it with
Basbousa loves a milky, spiced cup. We would pour an Adeni tea or a cardamom honey latte alongside, so the cardamom echoes the syrup's warmth. See our pairings guide for more matches.
Come taste the bakery.