Tsoureki is the Greek Easter bread that is often braided and flavored with mahleb.
This sweet, enriched bread is traditionally made with flour, eggs, butter, milk, and sugar. Mahleb, a spice made from the kernels of certain sour-cherry stones, gives many versions of tsoureki its distinctive aromatic flavor. Mastic may also be used, adding another characteristic Greek ingredient.
Tsoureki is especially associated with Greek Easter, or Pascha. A common festive version is braided, and some loaves include red-dyed eggs pressed into the dough before baking. The eggs symbolize the blood of Christ in Greek Easter customs and become part of the loaf’s visual design.
Tsoureki is sometimes compared with other holiday breads such as Italian panettone or Jewish challah because of its enriched dough and braided forms. It is not the same as baklava, which is a layered pastry made with filo and nuts.