Sweet Victory: Syrians Celebrate Freedom With Ice Cream After Assad’s Fall | Watch

In the aftermath of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster, hundreds of Syrians have flooded the streets of Damascus to savor the tastes of freedom. One of the most iconic places to mark this shift is the renowned Bakdash ice cream parlour in the historic Hamidiyeh Souk, where locals have returned to enjoy the signature mastic-infused Arabic gelato, a sweet symbol of the country’s resilience.

Anas Idrees, a 42-year-old who fled the country as a refugee during the civil war, was among the first to venture into the parlour after Assad’s departure. “I swear to God, it tastes different now,” he said after taking his first bite in 15 years. “It was good before, but it’s changed because now we are happy inside.”

Bakdash, which has been serving its signature ice cream since the 1890s, is a beloved fixture in Syria. The treat, made from Sahlab (a flour derived from orchid roots), is prepared with traditional methods that involve pounding the mixture with large mallets until it achieves a soft, stretchy texture. A bowl costs just $1 and is topped generously with pistachios.

For many Syrians, this is the first time they’ve been able to return to the capital city since the 2011 uprising. The subsequent civil war left the country divided and displaced millions. Now, with the fall of Assad’s regime, fighters fresh from the battlefield and former refugees alike have come together to celebrate, some even arriving with their guns slung over their shoulders while enjoying the cool treat.

“I hadn’t seen Damascus in over a decade,” said 22-year-old fighter Ahmed Aslaan. “This ice cream is a taste of freedom. We were stuck in small areas before. Now we have space.”

Bakdash’s co-owner, Samir Bakdash, welcomed the shift in the atmosphere. He reopened the shop the day after Assad’s fall, thrilled to no longer have to pay bribes to keep his business running under the oppressive regime. Despite the upheaval, Bakdash promised that the secret recipe passed down from his great-grandfather remained unchanged.

For patrons like Eman Ghazal, a regular who had been visiting since childhood, the experience was more than just about the ice cream. “It’s not just the ice cream; it’s life in general. It’s as if the walls are smiling and the sun has finally come out.”