For the fourth consecutive year, Lebanese people have welcomed the month of Ramadan. However, given the current tragic economic conditions, their joy has been somewhat diminished. With the arrival of the holy month, the most sought-following types of sweets in all Lebanese areas, such as “Ramadan bagels” and “Qatayef with cream,” are lacking from the breakfast table due to the significant increase in their prices. The cost of raw materials, such as nuts, pistachios, sugar, milk, and even flour, has gone up.
The Crisis Observatory at the American University of Beirut, a research initiative studying the consequences of the multiple crises in Lebanon, estimates that the cost of a basic breakfast for a family of five exceeds 6 million pounds per day. The owner of a sweets factory in Beirut told “Sky News Arabia” that the price of 12 pieces of “Qatayef cream” is now 9 dollars (which is regarding one million pounds), while the price of a single piece of “Kulaj,” made of chips with ghee, sugar, and cream, is two dollars (or regarding 200,000 lire).
Lebanese people have expressed their frustration with the lack of sweets on their Ramadan tables, with many families being focused solely on securing the main dish for breakfast. Many housewives are opting to prepare sweets at home to reduce costs.
The prices of Ramadan sweets have gone up significantly compared to previous years, which manufacturers attribute to high production costs, skyrocketing raw material prices, and the increased cost of fuel and gas. A tour of some of the famous stores in Beirut reveals the extreme rise in the prices of various types of sweets. A kilo of “Daouqieh,” a Beiruti dessert made of pistachio flour, cream, and sugar, now costs $15 per kilo (approximately one and a half million Lebanese pounds), which is equivalent to half the salary of an average employee in official state institutions.
In an effort to help citizens during the holy month, charitable societies in Lebanon have mobilized to collect financial donations and aid from grains, dates, oils, and cheese. Many of these associations have launched “fasting breakfast” campaigns aimed at providing daily meals before breakfast, including soup, rice, and dessert, to help the growing number of people in need.
For the fourth year in a row, the Lebanese welcomed the month of Ramadan, in light of tragic economic conditions, which diminished their joy at the advent of the holy month.
With the beginning of the holy month, the most popular types of sweets loved by fasting people in all Lebanese regions were absent from the Ramadan breakfast table, such as “Ramadan bagels” and “Qatayef with cream”, due to the significant increase in their prices due to the increase in the cost of raw materials that go into their preparation, such as nuts, pistachios, sugar and milk. And even flour.
A significant increase in the prices of sweets.. and the priority for the main breakfast dish
Sources in the Crisis Observatory at the American University of Beirut, “a research initiative aimed at studying the repercussions of the multiple crises in Lebanon,” estimated to “Sky News Arabia” that “the cost of basic breakfast for a family of 5 exceeds 6 million pounds per day.”
The owner of a sweets factory in Beirut told “Sky News Arabia” that the price of 12 pieces of “qatayef cream” amounted to 9 dollars (regarding one million pounds at present), while the price of a piece of “kulaj” candy, consisting of chips with ghee, sugar and cream, amounted to two dollars (regarding 200 thousand). lire).
Lebanese complained in their interview with “Sky News Arabia” regarding the absence of sweets in Ramadan from their tables, following the concern of families became limited to securing the main dish for breakfast.
In order to face the high prices of sweets, many housewives are preparing them at home to reduce costs.
Imaginary prices..and manufacturers justify
The prices of Ramadan sweets for this year have increased significantly compared to previous years, which manufacturers attribute to the high production costs, the prices of raw materials, and the high cost of fuel and gas.
On a tour of some of the famous stores in Beirut, the insane rise in the prices of different types of sweets appears. The price of a kilo of “Daouqieh”, which is a Beiruti dessert made of pistachio flour, cream and sugar, is $15 per kilo, which is approximately one and a half million Lebanese pounds, which is equivalent to Half the salary of an ordinary employee in official state institutions.
Charitable societies in Lebanon mobilized to collect financial donations and aid from grains, dates, oils and cheese, to secure sufficient funding for initiatives aimed at helping citizens in the holy month.
Officials of some of these associations told Sky News Arabia that most of these associations launched “fasting breakfast” campaigns aimed at providing daily meals before breakfast, including soup, rice and dessert, to facilitate the beneficiaries, whose number has greatly increased this year.
As the holy month of Ramadan comes to an end, the struggles faced by the Lebanese people during this time cannot be ignored. The absence of traditional sweets on the breakfast table has added to the already difficult economic conditions faced by families. The imaginary prices of these sweets, coupled with the high cost of basic necessities, have made it hard for families to fully embrace the joy that this holy month should bring. However, the resilience of the Lebanese people in the face of adversity is commendable, as many have resorted to making their own sweets to reduce costs. Charitable societies have also stepped up to provide aid and support to those in need. As we bid farewell to the holy month of Ramadan, we hope for better days ahead for the Lebanese people.
