Sweet Joon Brings Authentic Persian Bastani to Minneapolis

Sweet Joon Brings Authentic Persian Bastani to Minneapolis

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Sweet Joon brings Persian bastani to Uptown Minneapolis

Tadji Akhavan, Liz Akhavan, and Matt Smith have opened Sweet Joon, a new ice cream shop in Uptown Minneapolis, specializing in traditional Persian flavors. Located at 3146 Hennepin Ave., the shop focuses on handmade offerings, including bastani—a traditional Persian sweet made with saffron, rosewater, and pistachio.

According to a report from Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, the trio spent four iterations perfecting their signature recipe. The resulting ice cream uses saffron for a bright yellow color and rosewater for a light perfume, while salep—a flour derived from dried orchid roots—provides the elasticity characteristic of authentic Persian ice cream. The founders noted that the recipe reached its standard when Tadji’s father, originally from Tehran, remarked that the flavor was identical to the ice cream stands in Iran.

The business represents a family collaboration rooted in a move back to the Twin Cities during the pandemic. Tadji and Matt moved from Los Angeles to Minneapolis, where they eventually spotted a listing for the former La Ice Cream space on Facebook Marketplace. They pitched the concept to Liz, a former product designer for Target, during a family dinner at Caspian Bistro. The three then entered a research and development phase, learning the trade from former La owner Jennifer Lisburg and experimenting with flavors using a home ice cream maker.

Handmade ingredients and expanding flavor profiles

While the shop offers classic American flavors like chocolate brownie, milk and cookies, and candied pecan caramel, the menu is anchored by Persian-inspired ingredients. Liz prepares most of the add-ins by hand, including sohan, a cardamom crunch topping she describes as the Persian equivalent of peanut brittle.

The partners intend to continue expanding their use of traditional Persian elements. Future development plans include flavors such as roasted fig, orange blossom, and dried lime leaves. Liz also expressed interest in utilizing seasonal ingredients like pomegranate for a sorbet, noting the fruit’s significance in Persian culture, alongside the frequent use of sour cherry in Persian sweets.

The shop is situated within a concentrated commercial cluster near the south end of Hennepin Avenue. Nearby businesses include Black Walnut Bakery, Moona Moono, Thesis Coffee Co., and the Tasting Room.

The meaning behind the name

The name “Sweet Joon” was chosen for its cultural resonance and emotional weight. In Persian, “joon” is a term of endearment used to mean “my love,” “my soul,” or “my darling.”

“Our dad, who is from Tehran, adds ‘joon’ to every single one of our names: Tadji joon, Liz joon,” Tadji said. “I feel like the word ‘joon’ itself is so interwoven in what it means, to be Persian in terms of hospitality, family, community, and taking care of each other.”

While the three are equal partners, the daily operations of the shop are managed by Liz and Matt, as Tadji maintains a full-time sales position. The owners have expressed long-term goals to eventually offer their handmade ice cream to local restaurants through wholesale.

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