The coffee flows freely, accompanied by halwa, a traditional sweet which rekindles childhood memories of Mombasa.

BBC: Mombasa: One Square Mile of Kenya

Plump red pumpkins and squashes called kadhoos are pan-cooked with onions or transformed into halwa, a warm, melt-in-your-mouth dessert with the consistency of fudge.

NPR: Discovering Afghan Cuisine, a World Away