In Search of the “Jeem” – No. 6 by Dr. Mohammad Reza Zaeiri

✍️ By: Dr. Mohammad Reza ZAEIRI,
Cultural Counselor at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Translated into English by: Dr. Hana Saada  

Dr. Mohammad Reza Zaeiri: A Distinguished Voice in Religious Media and Cultural Diplomacy

Dr. Mohammad Reza Zaeiri is a renowned academic specializing in religious media, Islamic philosophy, and interfaith (Islamic-Christian) dialogue. As a prolific author and eminent literary figure, he has penned over thirty works encompassing literature, translation, creative writing, and narrative arts—several of which have been translated into major foreign languages, including English and French.

With a distinguished media career spanning more than a quarter of a century, Dr. Zaeiri has established an enduring reputation in the journalistic world. He has founded numerous periodicals and magazines and served as editor-in-chief of several prominent newspapers, most notably Hamshahri (¹), the largest Persian-language daily in the world.

His influence extends well beyond journalism. A committed cultural figure, Dr. Zaeiri has made significant contributions to the fields of film and television production. He is also a leading figure in the publishing sector, having established an independent media house that has continuously issued a monthly magazine for the past 23 years.

His most recent intellectual endeavor, “In Search of the Jeem” (2), marks a new milestone in his ongoing creative exploration. This reflective series, published regularly in Al-Ayam News (Arabic) and jeune-independant.net (French), chronicles his current tenure as Iran’s Cultural Counselor in Algeria. In these writings, Dr. Zaeiri  (3) offers a deeply personal and poetic meditation on identity, belonging, and the enduring cultural bonds that unite Iran and Algeria.

Today, Dzair Tube is proud to present the English edition of this compelling series—meticulously translated from both the Arabic and French originals.

“Makrout”—Ah, What Can I Possibly Say About Makrout!

Algeria is, without question, the land of confections — a reality that perhaps explains the country’s notably high incidence of diabetes. Diabetes, after all, is a formidable illness, often dubbed “the father of all diseases,” though it seems many take its threat rather lightly. And despite knowing this, I remain hopelessly enamored with sweets — a fact that has sparked more than a few disputes at home between me and my wife, who, deeply concerned for my wellbeing, fears I may one day fall victim to diabetes.

She knows all too well that I lose all self-control at the mere sight of desserts, and I — rather audaciously — try to deflect her concerns by invoking the saying, “Believers are sweet”, as if that were the only attribute of believers I’d ever learned!

And yet, every disagreement ends the same way: with mutual compromise. I settle for just one piece of dessert, and she, albeit reluctantly, agrees.

From the very moment we set foot in Algeria, we began frequenting pastry shops, asking about the names of sweets and slowly, piece by piece, unveiling the country’s confectionary repertoire. Early in this exploratory journey, a shopkeeper — sensing my curiosity — handed me a piece of an unfamiliar pastry: brown in color and shaped like a rhomboid.

What can I say? I fell head over heels in love the moment I tasted it.

No sweet has ever stirred my heart the way that little piece did.

It awakened my senses the instant it touched my tongue.

How I adored the taste of orange blossom water lingering in it!

Overwhelmed by this discovery, I immediately asked for more and inquired about its name. The shopkeeper replied in an Algerian dialect I couldn’t quite grasp, and the name slipped from memory soon after. But the scent of orange blossom water remained etched in my nostrils, and the exquisite flavor clung to my lips. My taste buds, it seemed, had found their soulmate.

And thus began a passionate love affair between me and Makrout, whose name I would only remember days later. Not long afterward, I read in the newspapers that Algerian Makrout had secured top rankings in the world of sweets — first in the Arab world and fourth globally in prestigious culinary competitions.

Makrout had captured the hearts of culinary experts and food lovers worldwide. I realized then that I was far from alone in my enchantment. As the Persian poet once wrote, “I am not the only one taken by her charm; all who glimpse her are captivated by her beauty mark.”

According to press reports, the global culinary website TasteAtlas, which specializes in ranking world cuisines, declared Algerian Makrout El Louz the best dessert in the world for the year 2023. This flourless delicacy, made from almonds, eggs, sugar, and aromatic orange blossom water, had risen to global prominence.

But accolades meant little to me — what truly mattered was what this wondrous sweet had done to my heart. It had become my permanent favorite, reigning supreme among all others.

In time, I discovered a whole host of Algerian desserts that rivaled even Makrout in their richness and appeal. I also learned that Makrout has long been considered the queen of celebrations, gracing weddings and festive tables for centuries.

According to the medieval Andalusian manuscript “Cookery of the Maghreb and Al-Andalus in the Almohad Era”, authored by an anonymous writer, the origins of Makrout date back to the 2nd century CE and are believed to lie in the coastal city of Béjaïa — a place I had the pleasure of visiting and found utterly captivating.

Interestingly, the text mentions that Makrout was once known as “al-Khoshklan.” I’ve often wondered whether that term bears Persian roots, just like many words in Algerian colloquial Arabic that derive from Turkish or Persian — legacies of the Ottoman era.

In Persian, “khoshk” means dry, and “khoshkel” means beautiful. Perhaps the dessert was once called “the almond crisp” or “the sweet beauty”? Who knows?

Endnotes

1. Hamshahri (in Persian: همشهری) is a major Iranian daily newspaper founded in 1990. The name means “fellow citizen” or “co-dweller” in Persian. It is the largest Persian-language newspaper in the world.

2. Jeem (ج) is the fifth letter of the Arabic alphabet and holds the phonetic value of the “j” sound in English. In this context, it symbolizes the moral and symbolic bridge between the author’s identity and his host country, Algeria.

3. Zaeiri (الزائري) is the author’s surname. When the letter “Jeem” (ج) is added, it becomes Jazaeiri (الجزائري), meaning “Algerian” in Arabic. This clever linguistic play underpins the philosophical theme of identity and belonging that permeates the text.