A Day in Nizwa, Oman, Nizwa, Oman (B)

If Friday is the busiest day because of the goat market and auction, a centennial old tradition in Nizwa, it is also when tour guides followed by their flocks of tourists outnumber locals.

So go any day, rather early (between 8 and 9am) and head to the souk. Past the vegetable section, head to Al Saifi to taste some of the best halwa in the Arabian Peninsula. Take a spoonful of this local favourite sweet and grab the halwa ball with your right hand: plain, fig, honey, dates, walnuts… Enjoy an Omani coffee after your tasting and pick the flavour you want to bring home.

You can venture through the meat and fish sections if your nose allows, and then move onto the date souk to top off your sugar level. With over 8 million date trees in Oman and about 60 different varieties, it is only a sample that is proposed here. Still you will have dozens to taste and choose from: nhlapo, fard, brny, zabad, hlaly, and flavoured with cumin, saffron, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, or sesame seeds. If it is overwhelming, we can recommend the fard that contains a little bit less sugar and is simply delicious! ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).