Sweet Hawaij

Sweet Hawaij is a flavorful Yemeni spice blend that combines ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves to create an aromatic mix, perfect for coffee, baked goods, and more.

If you haven’t tried Sweet Hawaij yet, you're in for a treat. This fragrant Yemeni spice blend is one of those ingredients that sounds fancy but is actually surprisingly easy to make.

It’s a warm, aromatic mix of ground ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves. With just four ingredients, Sweet Hawaij is the kind of spice blend that can take your cooking, coffee, and baking to a whole new level.

You love Pumpkin Spice, Chai and Biscoff, right? Well, Hawaij could very well be your new favorite sweet/warm spice blend.

First of all, it’s versatile. You can use it to flavor your coffee (trust me, it's amazing in a cup of freshly brewed coffee), sprinkle it on oatmeal, stir it into baked goods like cakes or cookies, or even add it to savory dishes for a little kick.

The taste of Sweet Hawaij is deeply warming and comforting. The ginger gives it a subtle heat, while the cardamom adds an exotic, slightly floral note.

The cinnamon and cloves round it out with their sweet and spicy characteristics. Together, they create a balanced mix that can elevate a simple recipe to something truly special.

You can make Sweet Hawaij in a matter of minutes, which makes it perfect for when you need a little something extra but don’t have a lot of time.

Whether you’re looking to spice up your coffee routine, add a unique twist to your baking, or try something new in your savory dishes, Sweet Hawaij is a spice blend you should definitely try.

Love homemade spice mixes? Be sure to also try Lebkuchengewürz Spice Blend, Shichimi Togarashi Japanese 7 Spice, Chai Spice Mix, or Speculoos Spice Blend.

Jump to:

• What is Hawaij?
• Why You'll Love This Recipe
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Serving Suggestions
• Storage
• Top tips
• FAQs
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

What is Hawaij?

Sweet Hawaij is a traditional Yemeni spice blend used in coffee, desserts, and baked goods. It typically contains ground ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves, giving it a sweet and aromatic flavor.

Regular Hawaij (or savory Hawaij) is a Yemeni spice mix used in savory dishes like soups, stews, and rice. It generally includes cumin, coriander, turmeric, and black pepper, providing a warm, earthy flavor.

In short, Sweet Hawaij is for sweet dishes and drinks, while Regular Hawaij is used for savory Yemeni meals.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Versatility: It’s not just for coffee. You can add it to desserts, baked goods, oatmeal, smoothies, and savory dishes like stews or rice.
• Quick & Easy: With just four simple ingredients, you can make your own spice blend in minutes.
• Warm, Comforting Flavor: The mix of ginger, cardamom, cinnamon, and cloves creates a warming, aromatic blend that’s perfect for cooler months.
• Great for Gifting: It’s a wonderful homemade gift for anyone who loves to cook or drink coffee.
• All-Natural: Unlike store-bought spice blends, you know exactly what’s going into this one.
• Global Flavors: It's a taste of Yemen.

Ingredients

• Ground Ginger: Adds a mild heat and warmth to the blend, with a hint of citrus. If you prefer a more subtle flavor, you can reduce the quantity or even swap it out for freshly grated ginger in your recipes.
• Ground Cardamom: One of the key flavors in Sweet Hawaij, it has a slightly floral, sweet, and spicy flavor. If you can’t find ground cardamom, you can buy whole cardamom pods and grind them yourself.
• Ground Cinnamon: This spice gives a sweet, slightly spicy flavor and pairs wonderfully with both the ginger and cardamom. Stick with Ceylon cinnamon (the true cinnamon) for a smoother flavor.
• Ground Cloves: They add a deep, warm spice to the mix. Be careful not to overdo it, as cloves can easily overpower other flavors. You can substitute with allspice if you prefer a milder taste.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Follow this step-by-step photo tutorial, then scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients list and method.

Simply measure out each of the spices, mix and store in a jar in a cool, dry place!

Serving Suggestions

1. Stir it into your morning coffee or latte for a warm, comforting drink. Try it in a Sweet Potato Latte!
2. Try a little in a hot chocolate for a rich flavour.
3. Add it to oatmeal or porridge for a fragrant, warming breakfast. Try it in Gruel, topped with some Stewed Pears.
4. Sprinkle over baked goods like cookies, muffins, or cakes.
5. Mix into pancake or waffle batter for extra flavor.
6. Use it as a topping for yogurt or chia pudding.
7. Sprinkle on roasted nuts for a sweet, spiced snack.
8. Add to fruit salads or roasted fruits like apples and pears.
9. Use it to flavor rice or quinoa for a unique twist on your side dishes.
10. Try it with these Yemeni Recipes.

Storage

Store Sweet Hawaij in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. It will keep for several months, but for the best flavor, I recommend using it within 3-4 months. You can also store it in the fridge to prolong freshness, but it’s not necessary.

FAQs

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you love this recipe, please leave a five-star rating and review in the comments below! And if you make any modifications, let us know how it went so that we can all benefit from your experience. Happy cooking!

📖 Recipe