From Italian gelato to Indian kulfi, ice cream lovers around the world swear by their local favourites. But a recent viral video has pushed an unexpected contender into the spotlight—Afghanistan’s traditional ice cream, Sheer Yakh.
American content creator Eli Snyder has taken social media by storm after sharing his experience of tasting Sheer Yakh during his travels in Afghanistan. The video, posted on Instagram, is part of his ongoing journey to discover which country serves the world’s best ice cream.
‘Nothing else comes close’
In the clip, Snyder explains that Afghanistan was one of the most requested destinations by his followers for a specific dessert. “I’m travelling around the world to see which country has the best ice cream, and today I’m in Afghanistan,” he says, introducing Sheer Yakh.
According to Snyder, the dessert is made using just three ingredients—milk, sugar and malt. The milk is boiled slowly from morning till late afternoon, reducing it by half and giving it a distinctive brown colour. The fat that forms on top, known locally as qaimaq, is skimmed off and later poured over the ice cream before serving.
Unique taste and texture
Describing the flavour, Snyder said Sheer Yakh is unlike any ice cream he has tasted elsewhere. “It’s dense and creamy, almost like clay, yet light. It’s not overly sweet and doesn’t feel heavy,” he noted, adding that delicate ice crystals melt slowly on the tongue while the cream ties everything together.
He went on to call it the “best ice cream in the world”, ranking it above popular varieties from Argentina, Syria and even Italy. “I’ve been to over 100 countries, and there’s no better country for ice cream than Afghanistan,” he concluded.
Internet reacts
The video quickly went viral, drawing enthusiastic responses from viewers, including Afghans and global food lovers. Many praised Sheer Yakh for being all-natural, with no artificial colours or additives. Others compared its dense, chewy texture to Turkish dondurma.
Traditionally flavoured with rosewater or cardamom and topped with pistachios or almonds, Sheer Yakh—meaning “milk ice” in Dari and Persian—has now found fans far beyond Afghanistan’s borders.