Mahleb is a particularly well-known spice with a distinctive and very familiar aroma. Together with Cardamom and Mastic from Chios, it is one of the essential spices used to flavor sweet breads.

It comes from the inside of a small black wild cherry grown mainly in Turkey and Syria. It is primarily used in pastry-making in powdered form, but it is also available in whole form to be cracked just before use, offering an even richer aroma.