Gaz (candy)
{{Short description|Iranian pastry}}
{{Other uses|Gaz (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox prepared food|name=Gaz|image=Gaz Candy From Iran.jpg|image_size=250px|caption=Gaz of Isfahan|country={{IRN}} (Persia)|region=Isfahan
|type=Nougat|served=|main_ingredient=sugar or corn syrup, pistachio or almond kernels, rosewater and egg whites{{cite web |url=http://en.rasekhoon.net/article/show/1087384/isfahan-gaz/ |title=Isfahan Gaz |website=rasekhoon.net |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-date=3 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303140820/http://en.rasekhoon.net/article/show/1087384/isfahan-gaz |url-status=dead }}}}
Gaz ({{langx|fa|گز}}) is an Iranian nougat that originated in the Isfahan region.{{cite web |date=19 April 2022 |title=Iranian Gaz Recipe (Persian Nougat) |website=Travel Food Atlas |url=https://travelfoodatlas.com/iranian-gaz-recipe-persian-nougat |access-date=13 September 2022 |language=en-US}} It is widely known as Persian Nougat in American and European countries.{{cite web |title=Heavenly Persian Nougat |url=https://www.candyatlas.com/heavenly-persian-nougat/ |website=Candy Atlas |access-date=26 May 2020 |language=en}} It is made from pistachio, almond kernels, rose-water, egg whites and sap from Persian manna.{{cite web |last=Mariana |date=4 December 2016 |title=15 Traditional Iranian Foods That Will Blow Your Mind |url=https://www.rucksackramblings.com/traditional-iranian-food/ |access-date=13 September 2022 |website=Rucksack Ramblings |language=en-US}}{{cite web |date=26 April 2022 |title="Gaz" Candy, Traditional Souvenir of Iran's Isfahan |url=https://ifpnews.com/gaz-candy/ |access-date=13 September 2022 |website=Iran Front Page (IFP News) |language=en-US}}
Etymology
The Persian word Gaz is associated with gaz-angobīn which translates to 'Honey of Gaz', in reference to a species of Tamarisk, T. gallicaWulff, Hans, M.I.T. Press, 1966, The traditional crafts of Persia: their development, technology, and influence on Eastern and Western civilizations that is native to the Zagros Mountains located to the west of Isfahan. Gaz is traditionally presumed to be the sap of the Tamarisk tree.
History
Gaz dates backs to 450 years ago in Isfahan, when the sap found on the Tamarisk tree was combined with flour, bread, pistachios, almonds and chocolate in traditional and industrial workshops.{{Citation needed|date=May 2020}} The height of this mountain tree reaches a height of two meters and it usually grows in good weather in the Khansar. The product of this tree becomes ready to harvest in the late summer and the shiny and yellow grains come out in the stems like millet. At this time, the owners of the trees must harvest them before the autumnal rains.
The sweet, milky honey (angobīn) found on the Gaz plant is associated with manna, a food mentioned in the religious texts of the Abrahamic religions.
Manufacture and style
Although originally believed to be sap manufactured by the Tamarisk tree, the sticky white substance was found to be formed from honeydew, which is exuded from the anus of the nymph of a psyllid insect, either Cyamophila astragalicola{{cite journal |title=Gaz of Khunsar: The manna of persia |last=Grami |first=Bahram |journal=Economic Botany |volume=52 |number=2 |pages=183–191 |doi=10.1007/BF02861207 |year=1998 |bibcode=1998EcBot..52..183G |s2cid=40764712}} or C. dicora,{{cite web |url=http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/gaz- |title=Gaz (1) |publisher=Encyclopædia Iranica |year=2000 |access-date=4 January 2012}} in its final instar, which live on plants of Astragalus adscendens, and is collected annually and is combined with other ingredients including pistachio or almond kernels, rosewater and egg white. Modern versions of gaz may use sugar and corn syrup as substitutes for psyllid manna.{{cite web |url=https://www.thespruceeats.com/persian-pistachio-nougat-521113 |title=Persian Pistachio Nougat |website=thespruceeats.com |access-date=30 April 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ciaosamin.com/2011/09/gaz-persian-nougat.html |title=Ciao samin: Gaz: Persian Nougat |website=Samin Nosrat |access-date=5 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510131329/http://www.ciaosamin.com/2011/09/gaz-persian-nougat.html |archive-date=10 May 2013}}
The traditional way to serve gaz is in round pieces that are about 2 inches in diameter and up to ½ inch thick. A modern presentation is to serve the nougat cut into smaller rectangles. Depending on the added ingredients, gaz can have a subtle rose flavour, a nutty taste, or a savoury and pungent profile, and it can be white, or another colour due to the addition of spices (such as saffron) or nuts.
Nowruz
Celebrations such as Nowruz, the Persian New Year, feature gaz. During the Nowruz holiday, family and friends visit each other's homes and, typically, the host offers fruits and sweets to their guests. Served with sherbet or tea, gaz is a favorite delicacy and a much-appreciated gift as it helps to ensure that a household will have ample snacks to serve all holiday visitors.
See also
References
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{{confectionery-stub}}
{{Cuisine of Iran|sweet}}
{{Nut confections}}