From Balmain to Perth

By June Ramli

Some products arrive for review and end up sitting on a shelf for months. Others seem to arrive at exactly the right moment.
Exotic Bazaar‘s Persian Love Cake Kit was one of those products.
After finally unpacking a set of baking utensils I had bought last year, I found myself with a sudden urge to bake. It became the first cake I have baked since moving to Perth, and unexpectedly, it also brought back memories of my life in Sydney.
Years ago, I used to spend time with a family in Balmain, often joining them at a Persian cafe.
Owen, the little boy I babysat, loved Persian Love Cake.

We would sit together with his mother and sister, Lila, sharing slices of the fragrant dessert over coffee and conversation.
At the time, I never knew the name of the cake. I simply remembered its delicate flavour, the hint of rosewater and the warmth of those afternoons.
So when Exotic Bazaar sent me its Persian Love Cake Kit, I was curious to see whether it would bring back those memories.

The answer was yes.
The kit itself is remarkably simple to use. Requiring only a few fresh ingredients from the supermarket, the cake came together with minimal effort. The instructions were straightforward and easy to follow, making it suitable even for novice bakers.
The finished cake was moist and fragrant, with the rosewater icing adding a subtle floral sweetness. Topped with pistachios, almonds and rose petals, it looked far more impressive than the amount of work required to make it.
The biggest difference from the Persian Love Cake I remember from Balmain was the icing. The version I enjoyed in Sydney was served plain, allowing the flavours of the cake to stand on their own. Exotic Bazaar’s version adds a rosewater icing that gives the dessert a sweeter and more decorative finish. While traditionalists may prefer the simpler version, I enjoyed the added texture and presentation.

Alongside the cake kit, I also sampled Exotic Bazaar’s Lebanese Za’atar and Dukkah spice blends.
The za’atar proved to be an easy way to elevate a simple breakfast.
Sprinkled over eggs, it added an earthy, herbaceous flavour that transformed an otherwise ordinary meal.

The dukkah delivered a satisfying crunch from its blend of nuts, seeds and spices, providing both texture and depth of flavour.
What impressed me most was their versatility. Both products required almost no effort but added noticeable character to everyday dishes, making them useful pantry staples rather than novelty ingredients.
I have yet to try Exotic Bazaar’s Persian Walnut Chicken, Moroccan Tagine and Tunisian Shakshuka meal bases, largely because I was missing some of the fresh ingredients needed to prepare them.

However, if the quality of the cake kit and spice blends is any indication, I suspect they will be worth the wait.
More importantly, Exotic Bazaar’s products achieved something many food products fail to do.
They sparked a memory.
Food has an extraordinary ability to transport us to another time and place. In this case, a simple cake baked in Perth briefly took me back to a Persian cafe in Balmain, sharing dessert with people who remain an important part of my life.
Tomorrow, read our interview with Exotic Bazaar founder Gilava, who shares her journey from arriving in Australia from Iran to building a growing food brand now stocked in selected Coles stores across the country.

Rating: 4.5/5

What We Liked

• Simple and beginner-friendly
• Beautiful presentation
• Authentic Middle Eastern flavours
• Versatile spice blends

Could Be Better

• Some shoppers may find the rosewater icing sweeter than traditional Persian Love Cake
• Meal bases require additional fresh ingredients

Verdict

Exotic Bazaar succeeds in making Middle Eastern flavours accessible to Australian home cooks. The Persian Love Cake Kit is easy to prepare, visually stunning and delicious, while the za’atar and dukkah blends prove that a small sprinkle can make a big difference to everyday meals.

Disclosure: The products featured in this review were provided to DailyStraits.com by Exotic Bazaar for editorial consideration. No payment was received for this review, and all opinions expressed are those of the author.