Hello Hyderabad: Satisfy your sugar cravings with Turkish Baklava

Hyderabad: Seven years ago, when most citizens were unaware of the dessert Baklava, Imtiaz Ali Siddiqui, founded the store Gourmet Baklava in Banjara Hills, to make Hyderabadis savour the special sweet from Turkey.

Not just in Hyderabad, Siddiqui claims that he was a pioneer in bringing the dish to India, which was famous since the times of the Ottoman Empire.

Siddiqui not only sells a range of authentic Baklava, but also other Turkish sweets like Cheese Kunafah and Turkish coffee and tea – all of which are prepared by chefs from Turkey and Jordan.

Baklava is a Middle Eastern, (primarily a Turkish) layered pastry dessert, which is filled with chopped nuts or dry fruits, sweetened with honey or syrup. It consists of layers of crisp, fragile phyllo dough alternating with a spiced nut mixture, which is soaked in sweet syrup or honey.

First baklava store to be awarded FSSC 22000

Recently, Siddiqui’s Gourmet Baklava was awarded India’s first Food Safety System Certification (FSSC) 22000 in the baklava manufacturing industry.

With a focus on excellence and hygiene, he operates three branches in Hyderabad, located in Banjara Hills, Kondapur, and the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, besides an additional branch in Mumbai international airport.

Speaking about his interest in the Turkish dessert, Siddiqui says, “Many people residing in the Deccan, especially in Hyderabad, have roots in Turkey. But they were not aware of Turkish delicacies. Seven years ago, when I introduced Baklava and Kunafah to Hyderabad, almost nobody knew about these sweet dishes. But after perceiving Baklava’s steady popularity among sweet connoisseurs, we have now come up with more outlets in the city and also in Mumbai. We are already supplying the sweets, which have a shelf life of around three months, pan India and also to the Middle East, South East Asia, and North America. We have plans to expand in other metro cities including Delhi and Bengaluru shortly.”

Authentic chefs from Turkey and Jordan make the desserts

Siddiqui informs that his chefs from Turkey and Jordan make all kinds of authentic baklava including pasta, almonds, cashew, pine nut, hazelnut, birds net, assorted boxes, and so on. “Besides, we make another Turkish dessert Kunafah, mainly from cheese, blueberry, mango, and seasonal fruits. Coffee and various types of tea such as hibiscus tea, green apple tea, rose tea, and mixed berry tea, brought from Turkey are also a hit with Hyderabadis.”

Imported ingredients used

“We source only the finest ingredients, including high-quality dry fruits, dates, and dry nuts, imported from different countries. This use of premium ingredients reflects in the delectable taste and texture of our baklava. In our state-of-the-art manufacturing units at Sanathnagar industrial area, our chefs, drawing on their expertise and knowledge of traditional recipes, precisely prepare each baklava, ensuring an authentic taste that delights customers,” avers Siddiqui.

Quality and safety behind success

Speaking about the recent achievement of FSSC certification, Siddiqui says, “We are thrilled to receive the first FSSC 22000 certification in baklava manufacturing in India. This recognition is a testament to our unwavering dedication to providing our customers with the highest quality and safest baklava. We take immense pride in being a prime food destination for Hyderabad’s food lovers, and this certification further reinforces our commitment to excellence.”