Somali Xalwo

Somali Xalwo (halwa) is a sweet delicacy that was typically consumed on special occasions like weddings and Eid, but now it is more commonly eaten by Somalis. It is a sweet and sticky treat that can be consumed as a snack, a dessert, a tea time accompaniment or in between two biscuits as a sandwich (the authentic way). It is made using ghee/butter, sugar and spices and you’ll find numerous Xalwo shops in Somalia selling this treat. British Somali TikToker, Akafi Ali, did a video on it a while ago, bringing it to the forefront of the rest of the world for a period of time.

Where to try it in London and how was it

Unless you know a Somali and can get an invite to his or her home, it’ll be hard to locate authentic Somali Xalwo. So, when we just happened to stumble upon this gem in Shepherd’s Bush, we were ecstatic and very excited. Bilan Shop in Shepherd’s Bush is a low-key unassuming grocery shop / cash and carry that does your usual grocery shop / cash and carry items. To call it a hidden gem would be an understatement – I mean it has zero reviews on Google! The big sign board outside the shop informed us that they also do Xalwo! This prompted us to venture inside. And we saw a cute old very nice uncle and aunty sat there waiting to serve you. The aunty who served us was very sweet, gentle, welcoming and informative. We had some questions about the Xalwo and she was more than happy to help with a constant smile on her face. They have two types of Xalwo; one which is plain and one which has nuts in it. It is priced at £5 for 1/2 kilo. 

How was the taste though? We didn’t really know what to expect in all honesty. We were pleasantly surprised. The texture was thick, stodgy and sticky and the taste was of almost like burnt caramel. I got a ginger nut biscuit taste, but my wife denied this. Nothing like the Pakistani version. Definitely worth trying.