• A Palestinian man carries basket of grapes to make grape molasses in the West Bank city of Hebron. EPA
    A Palestinian man carries basket of grapes to make grape molasses in the West Bank city of Hebron. EPA
  • Grapes are crushed by foot before they are turned into sweets. EPA
    Grapes are crushed by foot before they are turned into sweets. EPA
  • Grapes are then boiled down on a traditional oven to make molasses. EPA
    Grapes are then boiled down on a traditional oven to make molasses. EPA
  • Hebron is famous for its grapevines which produce large amounts of grapes and grapes products. EPA
    Hebron is famous for its grapevines which produce large amounts of grapes and grapes products. EPA
  • Several families keep the traditional method of making sweet molasses and Malban, traditional Arabic sweets, from fresh harvested grapes. EPA
    Several families keep the traditional method of making sweet molasses and Malban, traditional Arabic sweets, from fresh harvested grapes. EPA
  • A woman spreads a plastic sheet used to make the traditional Arabic sweets, Malban, from grape molasses. EPA
    A woman spreads a plastic sheet used to make the traditional Arabic sweets, Malban, from grape molasses. EPA
  • The grape mixture is sieved. EPA
    The grape mixture is sieved. EPA
  • Sweet grape molasses are decanted into containers. EPA
    Sweet grape molasses are decanted into containers. EPA

How grapes are turned into traditional Arabic sweets in the West Bank – in pictures


Emma Day
  • English
  • Arabic

It's harvest time in Palestine this month, with perfectly ripened grapes ready to be plucked from their vines for another year.

The West Bank city of Hebron is renowned for its grapevines that produce large amounts of fruit, from which many sweet treats are made.

Several families keep the traditional method of making sweet molasses from the fruit, by first crushing grapes by foot and boiling the mixture down to a sweet, syrupy texture.

The molasses can be used to make Malban, the traditional Arabic treat stuffed with nuts and typically flavoured with rose water, mastic or orange blossom.

Scroll through the gallery above to see Palestinians in Hebron turn grapes into molasses.

The city also holds an annual grape festival every September to showcase the area's world-famous fruit.