, an ancient type of
ice house, in
Yazd,
Iran The history of bastani probably began around 500 BC in the
Achaemenid Empire of
Persia. Various
syrups would be poured over
snow to produce summertime treats called "fruit ice" (
sharbat). Typically, the ice was mixed with saffron, grape juices, fruits, and other flavours. The Macedonian leader
Alexander the Great, who battled the Persians for ten years, enjoyed "fruit ices" sweetened with
honey and chilled with snow. In 400 BC, the Persians also invented a
sorbet made with rose water and
vermicelli called
faloodeh (). Persians introduced ice cream and faloodeh to Arabs after the
Arab invasion of Iran and the fall of Persian
Sasanian Empire. ==See also==