What is the Persian saffron-and-rosewater ice cream called?

The Persian saffron-and-rosewater ice cream is called bastani sonnati.

Bastani sonnati is a traditional Iranian frozen dessert flavored with saffron, rose water, and often cardamom. It commonly contains pieces of cream and may include pistachios. The saffron gives it a golden color, while rose water supplies the floral aroma associated with many Persian sweets.

The dessert is especially linked with Iran’s long tradition of flavored frozen foods. It is often served in scoops, in sandwiches made with wafer cookies, or alongside faloodeh, a separate Persian dessert made from thin starch noodles and a sweet rosewater syrup.

Bastani sonnati is sometimes simply called Persian ice cream, but that label can obscure its distinctive flavor profile. It should not be confused with sholeh zard, which is a saffron rice pudding rather than a frozen dessert.