ashta

Ashta is a term with culinary and geographic uses. In Levantine and Egyptian cuisines, ashta denotes a thick, sweet milk cream used in desserts and pastries. It is produced by gently heating milk and cream until the mixture thickens and a rich, velvety layer forms on top, which is then skimmed or cooled to further thicken. The cream is typically sweetened and perfumed with rose water or orange blossom, and it can be eaten as a dessert on its own or used as a filling or topping for pastries such as baklava, kanafeh, or honey-drenched sweets. In some preparations, it is layered with nuts or fruit and may be served hot or chilled.

The term ashta is transliterated in various ways, including ashteh or ashtha, reflecting differing dialects and alphabets. While most widely associated with the dairy product, the word also appears as a place name in several countries and as a surname, though these uses are unrelated to the culinary sense.