Baklava as a gift: a short guide
A box of baklava is an easy gift to get right: it travels, it keeps for days, and it suits almost any table. A few things are worth knowing before you send one.
Which box, for how many people
Baklava is rich, so pieces go further than you might expect. Most people have one or two with coffee or tea.
- Half box, 8 pieces (1/2 lb): a thank-you, a host gift for a small dinner, or a treat for two to four people.
- Full box, 16 pieces (1 lb): a family visit, a holiday table, a team at the office, or anyone who will want seconds. Eight people or more at one or two pieces each.
Occasions it suits
Baklava has always been a sharing food. In Turkey a tray goes to the neighbors at Ramadan and Eid, travels to weddings and engagements, and is what you bring when you visit someone for the first time. It fits just as well at a Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert table (see baklava for the holidays), a new-home visit, a birthday, or as a thank-you to a teacher, a doctor’s office or a client.
Because it does not need a fridge and keeps for several days, it also works when you cannot be sure when the box will be opened.
Sending it across the country
Every box ships from San Diego, California, to any address in the United States. Standard shipping is a flat $10. A few practical tips:
- Time it for a weekday. Baklava is happiest arriving to someone who is home, not sitting in a mailbox over a weekend.
- Tell them what it is. A short note that baklava is in the box helps: it stays out of the fridge, and it does not get left in a hot car.
- Send it a little early. Baklava keeps several days at room temperature, so arriving before the occasion is better than arriving late.
Allergies: check before you send
Baklava is built on nuts and wheat, so it is not a gift for everyone. Our baklava contains wheat (gluten), tree nuts (pistachios), milk, soy and honey, and may contain traces of peanuts and other tree nuts. If you are not sure about the person you are sending to, ask first.
When it arrives
The person you send it to only needs to keep the box closed, at room temperature, out of the fridge. For anything longer than several days, it freezes well. We wrote it all up in how to store baklava.
FAQ
Is baklava a good gift?
Yes, for most people. It travels well, keeps several days without a fridge and suits holidays, visits and thank-yous. The exception is anyone with a nut or wheat allergy.
How many pieces of baklava per person?
Plan on one or two pieces per person. A 16-piece box serves about eight people, an 8-piece box about four.
Can baklava be shipped?
Yes. It needs no refrigeration and keeps several days at room temperature. We ship from San Diego to any US address for a flat $10.