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Mahlab

Ground cherry kernel with an almond aroma used in breads.

Mahlab — illustrative ingredient image

About Mahlab

Mahleb is a fragrant spice made from the kernels inside the pits of certain sour or bitter cherries. It is used especially in sweet breads, pastries, biscuits, cakes, and festive doughs, where a small amount perfumes the mixture. It can also be added to selected dairy-based or savoury preparations.

The spice has a sweet, floral, almond-like aroma with a faint bitterness and cherry-pit character. Freshly ground mahleb is more aromatic than an older powder. It contributes fragrance rather than heat, and its fine texture disappears readily into doughs, batters, fillings, and other mixtures.

Mahleb is usually sold as a pale beige to light brown powder, although whole kernels may also be available. Whole kernels keep their aroma longer and are ground shortly before use. Grinding changes them to powder and releases fragrance; baking or cooking then softens its bitterness and integrates the flavour into the food.

Ingredient type
seasoning

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Where mahlab appears

1 linked foods

Find foods to recognise by country and type. Recipes and products vary; these are recorded ingredient connections.

Showing 1–1 of 1

Breads

Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for mahlab

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

Mahleb

English

mahlab

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Mahlab nutrition & diet

Mahlab nutritional value

Representative benchmark: Spices, not further specified

Representative nutrition benchmarkOfficial table values for a comparable food category, not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient.

Per 100 g of 100 g edible portion in the named official reference form.

Calories
349kcal
Protein
12.1g
Carbs
30.5g
Fat
14.5g

Representative benchmark from a comparable official food-composition category; it is not a laboratory measurement of this exact ingredient. The displayed reference form must be considered, and species, cultivar, recipe, brand, processing and preparation can change values.

Portions & preparation

Establish that mahlab is the ground kernel of the intended cherry species and is free of added ingredients before comparison. Reference information should match the culinary amount and form—whole kernel, freshly ground, or packaged powder—rather than the baked product where it is used.

Compare the right form: Match the reference to verified pure mahlab cherry kernel, whole or ground, distinguishing species, processing, blends, and the edible spice portion.

Diet considerations

Mahlab is plant-derived when its cherry-kernel identity is confirmed. It is commonly used in breads and pastries, so compatibility changes with wheat or other cereals, egg, dairy, coatings, and fillings. Packaged spice blends or prepared baked goods require ingredient-specific review rather than assumptions.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Not established
  • Vegetarian
    Not established
  • Pescatarian
    Not established
  • Keto
    Not established
  • Paleo
    Not established
  • Low-carb
    Not established
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Vegetarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Pescatarian · Not established
The available profile does not establish the full composition or processing for this dietary pattern.
Keto · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Paleo · Not established
The ingredient form and processing have not been assessed against this dietary pattern.
Low-carb · Not established
A defined serving and sourced carbohydrate data are needed before assessing this dietary pattern.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: Pacific Nutrient Database 2020 — 01.1.9.4.0_99 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .