In pics: Meet one of the oldest Kunafa makers in Luxor

CAIRO – 4 April 2022: During the Holy month of Ramadan, Egyptian families prepare special oriental sweets to eat after the breakfast meal, atop of these desserts is the Kunafa.

et spoke with one of the oldest Kunafa makers in Luxor, who started this profession 35 years ago, and now he is adding glimpse of art in each plate he makes.

Mohamed Ashraf was taught by his father the art of making distinct types of Kunafa.

Speaking about the prices of the Kunafa, Ashraf said that the prices did not rise much compare to last year. He used to sell 1 kilo of Kunafa for L.E. 18, this year he sells for L.E. 20. While Kunafa with mangoes, which appeals to most of the Egyptians, is sold at L.E. 25.

Ashraf explained that years ago, he started making Kunafa manually using the oven built of bricks, where he prepares the Kunafa dough, which used to take a lot of time and effort. He added that the Kunafa industry developed by preparing it automatically through a machine.

A large funnel in the front, and a strainer is placed on it to filter the dough, so that it comes out on a hot coil that cooks the Kunafa from the stage of the dough to the stage of the final form that is sold to the public.

Ashraf added that he makes Kunafa and Qatayef annually in seasons during the holy month of Ramadan, and work begins every morning at seven o’clock by preparing the dough to be made available from noon to the public.

There are various types of Kunafa, and perhaps the most famous of them are the nabulsi kunafa, the mabroum kunafa, the soft kunafa, and the rough kunafa. The methods of stuffing the kunafa vary from cream, nuts, chocolate, mango, yogurt, cheese, minced meat and other distinctive types of fillings created by candy makers during the past years, to satisfy all tastes.