Mahlep

The small seeds of a wild cherry, the size of apple seeds, mahlep gives a sweet and smoky aroma to breads and other baked goods. The grains should be the color of café au lait; dark brown grains indicate that the spice is old and probably stale. Mahlep is sold in Middle Eastern stores (see Sources). Buy it whole, not ground. Keep it in sealed jars in the freezer, and grind small quantities as needed.