Syrian cuisine is the traditional cooking of Syria, built on Levantine staples: olive oil, garlic, onion, chickpeas, lentils, rice, and spices such as cumin, coriander, cinnamon, allspice, and the blend baharat. Yogurt, cheese, and ghee are widely used dairy staples.
Meze (small shared appetizer plates) are central to Syrian meals: hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh, stuffed grape leaves, and tabbouleh. Main courses often feature lamb, chicken, or vegetables with aromatic spices, served with rice or flatbreads like pita or lavash. Aleppo's cuisine is known for complex, layered flavors built on pomegranate molasses and Aleppo pepper.
Sweets include baklava (nuts and rose or orange blossom syrup in flaky pastry) and semolina desserts like knafeh. Traditional drinks include mint tea, ayran (a savory yogurt drink), and arak, an anise-flavored spirit.