Chickpeas, Broad Beans and Hot Tea Bring Winter Traditions to Iraq’s Streets

As temperatures fall, Iraq’s streets welcome familiar winter staples, with food carts serving lablabi, or cooked chickpeas, alongside broad beans, soups and traditional sweets.

Hot tea is also part of the seasonal scene, accompanying foods that offer warmth during the colder weather.

The return of these street foods is about more than keeping out the chill. They revive customs passed down through generations, linking the winter season to familiar tastes and routines.

Together, the carts and their seasonal offerings keep a shared food tradition visible on Iraq’s streets, where a hot drink or a warming dish remains part of the rhythm of winter.