Lubnan: The Dairy Book from the Land of Milk and Honey
Lubnan: The Dairy Book from the Land of Milk and Honey is a culinary and cultural journey through Lebanon’s ancient dairy traditions. Rooted in the meaning of the country’s very name—Lebanon, derived from “lubnan,” the Semitic word for “white,” evoking snow-covered mountains—the book honors a heritage shaped by land, memory, and craftsmanship.
Barbara Abdeni Massaad new book traces the transformation of milk into the essential foods of the Lebanese table—butter, yogurt, labneh, kishk, and cheese—and follows these foundations with recipes that show how they are used in both traditional and contemporary dishes.
Through vivid photography and storytelling, she documents the artistry of dairy-making and the people who safeguard it, especially the shepherds whose lives remain integral to the fabric of rural Lebanon.
Blending personal reflections with passages from Omar Abou-Ezzedine’s Book of Abraham, the book becomes more than a cookbook. It offers a meditative exploration of identity, place, and the rituals that connect food to the soul.
Massaad invites readers to slow down, savor, and rediscover the meaning of nourishment, both culinary and spiritual.
Lubnan is an experience: a tribute to resilience, a celebration of flavors shaped by generations, and a heartfelt journey into the land of milk and honey.