If you grew up in a Pakistani household, chances are there was always a jar of murabba somewhere in the kitchen. Maybe it was sitting on the breakfast table next to the paratha, or tucked away in the fridge for whoever wanted a spoonful after dinner.
Murabba is one of those things that has been part of desi homes for generations, and yet most people only know two or three varieties by name. The truth is, Pakistan has a much wider murabba culture than most people realize, and in 2026, you can now find many of these traditional varieties made fresh and delivered right to your door.
This guide covers all the major murabba names and varieties available in Pakistan, what makes each one special, and where you can buy the real homemade version online.
Murabba Varieties Covered in This Guid
- Amla Murabba
- Quince Murabba / Bihi Ka Murabba
- Apple Murabba
- Bamboo Murabba / Bans Ka Murabba
- Carrot Murabba / Gajar Ka Murabba
- Ginger Murabba / Adrak Ka Murabba
- Karoonda Murabba
- Cranberry Murabba
- Hareer Murabba
- Ashrafi Murabba / Ash Gourd Murabba
- Rose Petal Murabba / Gulkand
- Mango Murabba
- Bel Murabba
- Apricot Murabba
- Plum Murabba
- Fig Murabba
- Walnut Murabba
- Pumpkin Murabba
What Is Murabba?
Murabba is a traditional sweet preserve made by slow-cooking fruits, roots, vegetables, or petals in sugar syrup. The word itself comes from Arabic, meaning "square" or "preserved," and the practice goes back centuries in South Asian culinary tradition. What sets murabba apart from jam or marmalade is that the whole fruit or piece is kept mostly intact, soaking up the sweetened syrup over time. The result is something that sits right between a sweet treat and a wellness food. It has flavour, it has texture, and depending on the variety, it carries real traditional health value too.
1. Amla Murabba (آملہ کا مربہ)
Amla Murabba is probably the most well-known variety in Pakistan and for good reason. Made from whole Indian gooseberries soaked in sugar syrup and spices, this one has a natural tang that balances perfectly against the sweetness of the preserve. Amla is packed with Vitamin C, and in traditional households it has always been valued for supporting immunity and digestion. Many people take a piece of Amla Murabba in the morning before breakfast, almost like a daily wellness ritual. The key to a good Amla Murabba is using whole, firm gooseberries and letting them soak long enough to absorb the syrup fully without going mushy.
2. Quince Murabba / Bihi Ka Murabba (بہی کا مربہ)
Quince, known as Bihi in Urdu, is a golden fruit with a firm texture and a naturally floral fragrance. Bihi Ka Murabba is one of those varieties that feels almost luxurious, with deep golden colour and a rich, slightly tart flavour once it has been slow-cooked in syrup. It has traditionally been associated with heart health and digestion, and it is particularly popular during winter months when the fruit is in season. If you have never tried Quince Murabba before, you are in for a surprise, it is much more complex in flavour than most people expect from a sweet preserve.
3. Apple Murabba (سیب کا مربہ)
Apple Murabba is a timeless classic, made from fresh handpicked apples cooked slowly in sugar syrup until they become tender and fully infused with sweetness. The texture is soft but not falling apart, and the flavour is clean and comforting. It is one of the easiest murabbas to enjoy because the taste is familiar to almost everyone, including children. Apple Murabba is often recommended for supporting liver health and digestion in traditional wellness practices, and it pairs wonderfully with breakfast or as a light evening snack.
4. Bamboo Murabba / Bans Ka Murabba (بانس کا مربہ)
This one surprises people the most. Bamboo Murabba, made from tender young bamboo shoots cooked in sugar syrup, is a rare and distinctive variety that most people have never even heard of. It has a mild, slightly earthy sweetness and a unique firm texture that is unlike any other murabba. Traditionally, bamboo murabba has been valued for purifying the blood, supporting digestion, and strengthening bones. It is genuinely uncommon to find a proper version of this, which makes The Nani's Secret's offering something worth trying if you want to explore beyond the usual varieties.
5. Carrot Murabba / Gajar Ka Murabba (گاجر کا مربہ)
Carrot Murabba is a winter favourite across Pakistan. Made from fresh red carrots slow-simmered in sugar syrup, this variety has a naturally vibrant colour and a warm, earthy sweetness. In most Pakistani homes, it is made seasonally when the good red Punjabi carrots come into the market, and many families look forward to it the same way they look forward to gajar ka halwa. It is rich in beta-carotene and has traditionally been eaten for energy and skin health. If you love gajar ka halwa but want something that keeps longer and is easier to serve, Carrot Murabba is a great answer.
6. Ginger Murabba / Adrak Ka Murabba (ادرک کا مربہ)
Ginger Murabba is for people who want something a little more bold in their murabba. Made from tender ginger pieces cooked in fragrant sugar syrup, this variety has that characteristic warmth and bite of ginger balanced out by the sweetness of the preserve. It has been used traditionally to support digestion, relieve nausea, and warm the body during cold weather. A small piece of Adrak Murabba after a heavy meal is something many desi households have practised for generations, and it genuinely works. The flavour is assertive and warming, and it is one of the more medicinal-feeling varieties in the collection.
7. Karoonda Murabba (کروندہ کا مربہ)
Karoonda is a small, naturally tangy berry-like fruit found across Pakistan, and when it is turned into murabba, the result is a beautifully balanced sweet-and-sour preserve. Karoonda Murabba has a slightly more acidic flavour profile than most other murabbas, which makes it stand out and feel refreshing rather than just sweet. It is packed with natural antioxidants and has traditionally been valued for supporting immunity and general wellness. If you enjoy bold, tangy flavours and want something a bit different from the usual fruit murabbas, this is a great variety to try.
8. Cranberry Murabba (کرین بیری مربہ)
Cranberry Murabba is a newer addition to the traditional Pakistani murabba repertoire, bringing together the tartness of cranberries with the slow-cooked sweetness of a classic preserve. It has a beautiful deep red colour and a flavour that is noticeably more tangy and bright than the more traditional varieties. Cranberries are well-known for their antioxidant content and are often associated with urinary and immune health in modern wellness circles. This variety is a good entry point for people who are new to murabbas but already familiar with cranberry-based products.
9. Hareer Murabba (ہریڑ کا مربہ)
Hareer, also known as Haritaki or Chebulic Myrobalan, is a small fruit with a long history in traditional South Asian and Unani medicine. Hareer Murabba is made by gently simmering this fruit in sugar syrup until it develops a smooth, deeply flavourful preserve with a mildly astringent edge. It has traditionally been recommended for purifying the blood, improving digestion, relieving acidity, and supporting cardiovascular health. This is one of the more medicinal murabbas in the collection and is particularly valued by people who approach murabba as part of a traditional wellness routine rather than just a sweet snack.
10. Ashrafi Murabba / Ash Gourd Murabba (پیٹھا مربہ)
Ashrafi Murabba is made from fresh ash gourd, a large light-green vegetable that is also commonly used to make the famous Petha sweet from Agra. When slow-cooked in sugar syrup, ash gourd becomes translucent and develops a clean, mild sweetness with almost no overpowering flavour of its own, which makes it very easy to eat. It is cooling in nature and has traditionally been associated with digestive health and mental calmness. This is a good option for people who want a lighter, more subtle murabba without any sharp or tangy notes.
11. Rose Petal Murabba / Gulkand (گلقند)
Gulkand is arguably the most fragrant and beloved variety in the entire murabba world. Made from fresh rose petals slowly infused in sugar, it has a deeply floral aroma and a gentle sweetness that is unlike anything else. Gulkand has been used in traditional Unani and Ayurvedic practice for centuries as a cooling food that calms the body, supports digestion, improves skin health, and relieves heat-related discomfort. A spoonful of Gulkand in the summer, especially mixed into a glass of cold milk, is something people never forget once they have tried it. The quality of Gulkand depends entirely on the quality of the roses used and how carefully it has been prepared, which is why a homemade version made with real care is always going to be superior to a mass-produced one.
Other Famous Murabba Varieties in Pakistan
Mango Murabba (Aam Ka Murabba) is one of the most beloved varieties across Pakistan and India. Made from raw green mangoes cooked in sugar syrup with spices, it has a tangy-sweet flavour that is hard to forget. It is typically made at the beginning of mango season when the fruit is still firm enough to hold its shape through the cooking process.
Bel Murabba (Wood Apple Murabba) is made from the bel fruit, also known as stone apple, which is widely used in traditional Unani medicine. It has a thick, deeply flavoured preserve with strong digestive and cooling properties. Bel Murabba is particularly popular in Punjab and Sindh during summer months.
Apricot Murabba (Khumani Ka Murabba) is a specialty of the northern regions of Pakistan, particularly Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral, where fresh apricots are grown in abundance. The preserve has a warm golden colour and a sweet-tart flavour that reflects the natural quality of the fruit from those mountains.
Plum Murabba (Aloo Bukhara Murabba) is made from fresh plums and has a beautiful deep red-purple colour with a rich, slightly sour flavour that makes it one of the more distinctive preserves in the murabba family. It has traditionally been associated with liver health and is a common household remedy in many parts of Pakistan.
Fig Murabba (Anjeer Ka Murabba) is a rich and naturally sweet preserve made from fresh or dried figs cooked in sugar syrup. Figs are highly regarded in Islamic tradition and traditional medicine for their digestive and nutritional properties, which makes Anjeer Murabba a particularly valued variety among health-conscious households.
Walnut Murabba (Akhrot Ka Murabba) is one of the more unusual and prized varieties, made from young green walnuts before the shell hardens. It is labour-intensive to prepare and has a deep, slightly bitter-sweet flavour. Walnut Murabba has traditionally been valued for brain health, energy, and general strength, and it tends to be more of a specialty item than an everyday murabba.
Pumpkin Murabba (Kaddu Ka Murabba) is a traditional winter preparation made from fresh pumpkin pieces cooked until soft and translucent in sweet syrup. It has a mild, clean sweetness and is one of the more affordable murabbas to make at home, which is why it used to be very common in older Pakistani households even if it has become less popular today.
Where to Buy Authentic Murabba Online in Pakistan
Finding genuinely homemade murabba is harder than it sounds. Most mass-produced versions use artificial colours, synthetic preservatives, and fruit that is not properly ripe or carefully selected. The Nani's Secret is a Pakistani brand that makes all of its murabbas the traditional way, using hand-selected ingredients, slow-cooking methods, and no artificial additives.
Our full murabba collection is available for delivery across Pakistan.
Whether you are buying for daily wellness, as a gift, or simply because you grew up with murabba on the breakfast table and want that taste back in your life, our collection covers everything from the classics like Amla and Quince to the rarer varieties like Bamboo and Hareer. Each jar is made with the kind of care and patience that you simply cannot replicate in a factory, and that is exactly what makes the difference.