Discover the Flavors of Israel: Top 7 Fun Facts About Israeli Cuisine

1. Pop Rocks Chocolate Bars

In a Willy Wonka-esque twist to the chocolate factory tale, Israeli chocolatiers have concocted a treat that will make your taste buds dance and fizz – quite literally: Israel's best-selling chocolate brand, Elite, masterfully blends both nostalgia and surprise with their pop rocks chocolate bars, featuring delightful popping candies inside, delivering an explosion of flavors and sensations long after the chocolate has melted, leaving the consumer craving more of these mouth boogying goodies, available in boxes of 12 at Oh! Nuts, a retailer specializing in Israeli treats.
Source => ohnuts.com

2. The Invention of Israeli Couscous

In a delicious twist of starch-based destiny, Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, played a pivotal role in the invention of a beloved food now celebrated as the chameleon of side-dishes: Israeli couscous, or p'titim, was born in the 1950s during a time of austerity when rice was scarce. Tasked by Ben-Gurion, the Osem food company cooked up this scrumptious substitute using toasted hard wheat flour, resulting in pasta's tiny, delectable doppelgänger – not actually a couscous, but rather a wonderful impostor that has found its way into a smorgasbord of dishes, both hot and cold, and continues to steal the hearts of children and adults alike.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know that Greeks are huge seafood lovers? They rank among the top European Mediterranean countries in seafood consumption, with an impressive 33.4 kilograms per person annually! 🦐🇬🇷 Dive into more tasty facts about Greek cuisine...

=> Fun Facts about Greek-Food

3. Olive Oil Consumption Ranking

Olive you very much, Israel – but just not enough to crack the top 10: Israeli cuisine offers a scrumptious fusion of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors, but it managed to consume only 24 thousand metric tons of olive oil in 2020, placing it 14th in domestic consumption of olive oil globally.
Source => nationmaster.com

4. Cheesecake-loving Shavuot

Why did the cheesecake walk into a synagogue? To celebrate Shavuot, of course! The hilarious truth is that on this Jewish holiday, traditional feasting is highlighted by dairy products like cheese and cheesecake, triggered by the sudden observance of kosher meat laws upon receiving the Torah; rendering a tasty experience for the whole family – no kosher goat left behind.
Source => haaretz.com

5. Shawarma's Pirate Connection

Shiver me shawarmas, me hearties! This Israeli treasure has a bit of the pirate's life in it, sailing the culinary seas from the distant shores of Turkey: Shawarma, a scrumptious staple in Israel, has its roots in Turkey and has made its way across the Middle East and Mediterranean, tempting taste buds with its seasoned, spit-roasted layers of meat like lamb, chicken, turkey, or beef, ultimately docking at a delicious destination with accompaniments like tabbouleh, fattoush, bread, and a bountiful bevy of sauces.
Source => minimalistbaker.com

6. Adaptable Malabi Dessert

Hold onto your gluten-free socks, lactose intolerant warriors, and egg-free crusaders because the Israeli dessert scene is here to sweep you off your feet, quite literally: Malabi, a popular, highly-adaptable sweet treat with origins in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Europe recipes, takes the dietary need cake with its cornstarch and dairy milk substitute options, providing the perfect exclamation point for Middle Eastern and Indian feasts complete with a final drizzling of syrup, nuts, or shredded coconut.
Source => thespruceeats.com

7. Pita Bread Currency

Before Bedouins invented Venmo, they had Pita-mo: Pita bread, an ancient Israeli flatbread, was once used as a form of currency by desert-traveling traders. These fluffy discs have since evolved into versatile food pouches and utensils, filled with succulent meats and vibrant veggies or skillfully employed to scoop up hummus like a pro.
Source => myolivetree.com