The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

Every year throughout Ramadan and Eid, the local dessert scene surprises us with their latest creations. Dessert shops always try to bring out the best, whether in creating a new innovative food trend or playing around with a new hot fad to add to Ramadan desserts – in any case, creatively, we are all for it. 

Ramadan is all about spirituality, family gatherings, traditions, and of course–food! This year, Tortina shop has started the holy month with quite the scrumptious debate: Team Shar’ana or Team Ghar’ana? Tortina played on the gatherings factor and the Egyptians’ ever-lasting sweet tooth to create social media hype over their newest Ramadan creations: The Shar’ana, which is basically layers of basbousa dough filled with qeshta or Egyptian cream and almonds, and The Ghar’ana, which is kunafa with condensed milk and nuts. Both are typically flavour bombs, but the debate that is all over social media right now is which one is better. 

The debate seems all too familiar, and if boiled down, it’s essentially a kunafa vs basbousa debate, which has been going on since the beginning of time, at least here in Egypt! This debate, however, is modernised to keep up with the trends that develop every Ramadan. 

Tortina sent these two desserts to foodies, food bloggers, and chefs to settle the debate – but honestly, you cannot really settle this debate unless you try it yourself. But, from what we gathered, with a general look at the comments, Ghar’ana might just win this one. Also, depending on whether you prefer basbousa or kunafa, you’ll make your decision based on your preference. You can pick them up from any of their branches in Maadi, Nasr City, Heliopolis, New Cairo, Mohandseen, Zamalek, and Sheikh Zayed, or call their hotline 15412.