Family keeps up Beirut dessert tradition

Hasan El-Makary weighs mufataka, a traditional Beiruti sweet, at his shop in the Lebanese capital on Aug. 29, 2024. Samir Makari stirs a pot as he makes mufataka, a traditional Beiruti sweet, at his shop in the Lebanese capital on Aug. 29, 2024. Samir Makari pours tahini sesame paste in a container as he prepares to make mufataka, a traditional Beiruti sweet, at his shop in the Lebanese capital on Aug. 29, 2024.

At a shop nestled in a busy, crowded Beirut district, Hasan El-Makary is weighing out containers of warm, fragrant mufataka, a traditional sweet in the Lebanese capital that is rarely found in stores.