Middle Eastern Desserts in Northern Virginia
End your meal the way it was meant to be ended -- with authentic Middle Eastern sweets. From harissa, the syrup-soaked semolina cake, to creamy, rose-water-perfumed rice pudding, Taza serves desserts from the Middle Eastern tradition, plus cake. Available individually or in quantity for your next gathering.
Our Dessert Menu
Authentic Arabic Sweets
Taza's desserts come straight from the Middle Eastern sweet tradition: semolina cake soaked in syrup and cool, creamy rice pudding.
Harissa (Semolina Cake)
Harissa is the Middle Eastern semolina cake -- also called basbousa or namoura, and not the chili paste that shares its name. Dense, moist, and soaked in sweet syrup, it is sold by the piece across Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and the Gulf. At Taza, harissa comes two pieces to an order, a sweet, simple finish after shawarma or manaeesh.
- Semolina cake, two pieces per order
- Also known as basbousa or namoura
- Soaked in sweet syrup
- Dense, moist, and subtly sweet
Rice Pudding
A comforting bowl of creamy rice pudding, cooked with milk, sweetened, and perfumed with rose water and a dusting of cinnamon. A traditional Middle Eastern dessert and a gentle way to end a meal.
- Cooked with milk for creaminess
- Perfumed with rose water
- Dusted with cinnamon
- Comforting, smooth, and lightly sweet
The Art of Baklava
How Baklava Is Made
Baklava is not a quick dessert. It is a labor of love that requires patience and skill. Here is the traditional process.
Layer the Phyllo
Bakers start by layering sheets of paper-thin phyllo pastry, brushing each layer with melted butter. This careful process creates the flaky, crispy texture that shatters with every bite.
Fill with Nuts
Between the layers goes a generous mixture of finely chopped nuts -- pistachios, walnuts, or both, depending on the region. The nuts add a rich, earthy crunch that balances the sweetness of the syrup.
Bake to Golden Perfection
The assembled baklava goes into the oven and bakes until every layer is deeply golden, crispy, and fragrant. The butter and nuts create an aroma that fills the kitchen.
Drench in Honey Syrup
While the pastry is still hot from the oven, syrup -- often scented with rose water, orange blossom, or honey -- is poured over it. The hot pastry absorbs the syrup, becoming sticky and sweet.
What Sets Us Apart
Why Our Desserts Are Different
Traditional Sweets
Harissa (semolina cake) and rice pudding are two of the most traditional sweets in the Middle East -- one dense and syrup-soaked, one cool and creamy. Both are on the Taza dessert menu, along with cake.
Easy to Add On
Desserts are easy to add to any order -- online through Clover for pickup, or at the counter. Harissa comes two pieces to an order, and rice pudding comes in its own cup.
Halal & Vegetarian
Everything at Taza is 100% halal, and the harissa, rice pudding, and cake are all vegetarian. Suitable for the whole family.
Open Until Midnight
Taza is open 11 AM to midnight, seven days a week, so dessert works after a late dinner too. Free parking at the door at 5820 Seminary Rd Ste O.
Perfect Pairings
What to Pair with Your Dessert
The right pairing elevates the experience. Here are our recommendations for getting the most out of your Taza dessert.
The bright, zesty lemon-mint cuts through the syrupy sweetness of the semolina cake. A refreshing contrast that cleanses the palate between bites.
Ordering for a group? Pair harissa with a slice of cake so the table gets two very different textures -- dense and syrupy next to soft and light. Ask at the counter which cake flavors are available.
Two creamy textures that complement each other surprisingly well. The avocado smoothie's subtle sweetness pairs naturally with the rose water in the rice pudding.
The creamy, lightly sweet rice pudding is the ideal follow-up to a savory, protein-packed shawarma bowl. It cleanses the palate and leaves you satisfied.
A Sweet History
The Story Behind the Sweets
Baklava: A Sweet History
Baklava is one of the oldest desserts in the world, with roots often traced to the Assyrian empire. The version we know today was perfected in the kitchens of the Ottoman Empire's Topkapi Palace, where chefs layered paper-thin phyllo with nuts and honey syrup. Every country in the Middle East has its own variation -- some use pistachios, others walnuts or cashews. Some drench in simple syrup, others in honey. Semolina cakes like harissa (basbousa) come from the same syrup-soaked sweet tradition, and harissa is what you will find on the Taza dessert menu.
Rice Pudding: Comfort Across Cultures
Known as muhallabiyeh or roz b-halib across the Arab world, rice pudding is one of the most universal comfort desserts in Middle Eastern cuisine. Unlike Western versions that can be heavy, the Middle Eastern style is lighter, perfumed with rose water or orange blossom water, and often served chilled. It has been served at celebrations, as a soothing treat for children, and as the dessert course at family dinners for centuries. At Taza, rice pudding is perfumed with rose water and dusted with cinnamon.
Dessert Catering
Dessert Trays for Your Event
Hosting a party, Eid celebration, or office event? Dessert orders are an easy sweet finish, with catering for 10 to 200+ guests.
Harissa for a Crowd
Order harissa, the syrup-soaked semolina cake, in quantity for a dessert table. An easy, traditional sweet for Eid, birthdays, and office events.
Ask for your guest countRice Pudding Cups
Individual cups of creamy rose-water rice pudding, dusted with cinnamon. Easy to serve, and a gentle sweet for guests of all ages.
Catering for 10 to 200+ guestsMixed Dessert Platter
A combination of harissa, rice pudding, and cake for a catered event. Delivery is available with catering orders.
Call (703) 340-1014Middle Eastern Desserts Near You
Visit us at 5820 Seminary Rd Ste O, Falls Church, VA 22041 for harissa, rice pudding, and cake. We serve the Falls Church area and all of Northern Virginia.
Treat Yourself to Something Sweet
Our harissa and rice pudding are a sweet ending to any meal -- or a delicious treat on their own. Order online, call ahead, or stop by and treat yourself today.