Qizha

Qizha is a rare Palestinian paste that's thick in consistency and ink black in color. It's a specialty of the city of Nablus. Popularly called black tahini, it's made from ground nigella seeds. The seeds are soaked in water, roasted in the oven, dried in the sun, then ground into a paste, which is often mixed with honey or date syrup. The flavor is intense and bitter with slightly sweet notes and a minty, oniony aftertaste. Qizha is most commonly used in desserts, especially in siniyyat al-qizha, a small diamond-shaped treat that's adorned with almonds on top. Interestingly, the old people in Palestine often eat a spoon of qizha every day in order not to get sick.