There is a particular kind of hunger that has nothing to do with an empty stomach. It is the ache for a taste from home, a smell that takes you back to your mother's kitchen or a busy bazaar on a Friday evening. For Pakistanis living in Riyadh, that hunger often has a name: mithai.
This guide is for every expat who has typed 'Pakistani sweets Riyadh' into their phone at least once. We know that feeling well. At RIVAAJ Sweets and Bakers, we make these sweets fresh every single day so that a piece of home is always within reach.
Here are the 10 Pakistani sweets every expat misses most, and exactly where you can find them in Riyadh.
01. Gulab Jamun
Let us start with the one that tops every list. Gulab Jamun is made from khoya, a dense milk solid, rolled into small balls, fried slowly until mahogany brown, and soaked in a warm rose and cardamom syrup. The result is soft all the way through, sweet without being sharp, and impossible to eat just one of.
At RIVAAJ, our Gulab Jamun is made fresh every morning. The syrup is perfumed with real rose water and green cardamom. This is the sweet that most of our customers ask for first.
02. Jalebi
Hot, crispy, syrup-soaked spirals of fermented batter fried to a deep orange. Jalebi is the sweet that belongs at breakfast as much as it does at a late-night mela. Paired with a cold glass of milk or a cup of chai, it is one of the great pleasures of Pakistani food culture.
The key to great Jalebi is the fermentation. The batter must rest overnight so it develops a slight tang that balances the sweetness of the sugar syrup. Shortcuts produce a flat, one-dimensional result.
03. Ras Malai
Soft discs of chenna, a fresh cottage cheese, are poached until they are almost cloud-like, and then floated in a chilled saffron and rose milk. Ras Malai is the sweet you bring when you want to impress. It is delicate, fragrant, and unlike anything else on a mithai tray.
It is also the one that suffers most when made poorly. Tough or rubbery chenna means the milk was curdled at the wrong temperature. At RIVAAJ, we give it the patience it demands.
04. Barfi
Pure khoya is reduced, sweetened, and set into firm squares. Barfi is the most versatile sweet in the Pakistani repertoire. It comes plain, with pistachios, with coconut, layered with colour, or wrapped in edible silver leaf for weddings. It travels well, gifts beautifully, and tastes of generosity.
The word barfi comes from the Persian word for snow, a nod to the milk-white colour of the classic plain version.
05. Kaisar Pak
Kaisar Pak is a dry fruit and nut sweet that sits in a category entirely its own. Made with a dense base of khoya and ghee, studded with cashews, almonds, pistachios, and dried fruits, it is rich, firm, and intensely satisfying. It is the kind of sweet you bring when you want to say something without words.
It is a favourite for Eid boxes and wedding trays, where generosity is expressed through the quality of what is offered. At RIVAAJ, our Kaisar Pak is made with premium nuts and pure desi ghee, cut into clean squares and finished with edible silver leaf.
06. Chum Chum
Elongated, cream-stuffed, sometimes rolled in desiccated coconut. Chum Chum is a Bengali-origin sweet that has become firmly embedded in Pakistani mithai culture. It is softer and lighter than Barfi, with a gentle sweetness and a texture that gives slightly when you press it.
The version stuffed with rabri, a slow-cooked, thickened milk cream, is particularly beloved.
07. Ladoo
Round, golden, and deeply comforting. Besan Ladoo, made from roasted chickpea flour and ghee, is the sweet of celebrations, religious occasions, and the kind of love that shows up unannounced. Every grandmother has her version. Every version is the best one.
Motichoor Ladoo, made from tiny fried boondi balls bound together with sugar syrup, is the lighter, more festive sibling and a staple at weddings and Eid.
08. Imarti
Imarti is Jalebi's more complex older sibling. Made from urad dal batter piped into intricate flower shapes and fried before being soaked in sugar syrup, it is darker in colour, denser in texture, and deeper in flavour. It is less common than Jalebi, which makes finding a good one even more satisfying.
09. Kalakand
Kalakand is a grainy, milk-based sweet made by cooking freshly curdled chenna with full-fat milk and sugar until it sets into a soft, crumbly block. It is less dense than Barfi, more textured, and has a gentle sweetness that does not overpower. Finished with crushed pistachios and a dusting of cardamom, it is one of the most elegant sweets on any mithai tray.
10. Kala Jamun
Kala Jamun is Gulab Jamun taken further. The same khoya dough base, but fried longer at a lower temperature until the outside turns a deep, almost black brown. The extended frying caramelises the natural sugars in the khoya, creating a slightly crisp exterior with a dense, almost fudgy centre, all soaked through with the same rose and cardamom syrup.
If Gulab Jamun is the sweet you love, Kala Jamun is the one you do not forget. The depth of flavour is unlike anything else on the mithai tray. At RIVAAJ, both are available daily, and the choice between them is the best kind of problem to have.
Where to find all 10 in Riyadh
Every sweet on this list is available fresh at RIVAAJ Sweets and Bakers in Riyadh. We make them daily using traditional recipes, pure desi ghee, and real ingredients. No pre-packaged shortcuts, no artificial flavours.
• Visit us: RBJA7981 Building 7981, Riyadh 12734
• Order on Keeta or HungerStation for same-day delivery across Riyadh
• Bulk orders and gift boxes: WhatsApp +966 54 777 7683
• Custom Eid, wedding, and corporate trays available with advance notice
If you have been missing a taste of home, you know where to find it now.
Every bite carries tradition. Every box carries joy.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Pakistani sweets in Riyadh?
RIVAAJ Sweets and Bakers makes fresh Pakistani sweets daily in Riyadh, including Gulab Jamun, Jalebi, Ras Malai, Barfi, and Halwa. Visit RBJA7981 Building 7981 Riyadh 12734, or order via Keeta and HungerStation.
Which Pakistani sweet is most popular in Riyadh?
Gulab Jamun and Jalebi are consistently the most popular Pakistani sweets among expats in Riyadh. Both are available fresh daily at RIVAAJ Sweets and Bakers.
Can I order Pakistani sweets online in Riyadh?
Yes, RIVAAJ Sweets and Bakers is available for delivery in Riyadh through Keeta and HungerStation. Bulk and custom orders can be placed via WhatsApp at +966 54 777 7683.
Does RIVAAJ Sweets make fresh mithai every day?
Yes, all sweets at RIVAAJ Sweets and Bakers are prepared fresh daily using traditional recipes, pure desi ghee, and authentic ingredients. No pre-packaged or mass-produced items are sold.
What is the best Pakistani sweet for Eid gifting in Riyadh?
Sohn Halwa, Barfi, and Gulab Jamun are the most popular choices for Eid gifting. RIVAAJ Sweets offers custom gift boxes and bulk orders for Eid, weddings, and corporate events.