Step inside Ladan Pastry and Nuts and face a welcome assault of smells and colour.

This tiny Lawrence Avenue East shop is stuffed with pistachios, pecans, dried food and spices. Shelves are lined with traditional Persian pastries, and hard to find food products like quince jam, yellow fava beans and barberries. The chickpea dumplings and almond baklava are delicious.

Warning: don’t shop on an empty belly.

Ladan Pastry and Nuts, Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough, 416-288-0253.