Different Flavours of Turkish Delight

In the West even the idea of Turkish delight conjures images of snow witches and tiny kids who wear fur coats and go off to adventures in the wardrobes of their children and an ice cream-coated chocolate bar that is packaged in a shiny pink packet.

However, the authentic Turkish dessert is sweet traditional that comes from Turkey called Lokum that has been consumed over the many centuries. A excursion to Turkey and an iced coffee cup Turkish coffee, is enough without trying this sweet.

A Brief History of Turkish Delight

It is believed that the Turkish word lokum is derived from the Arabic word rahatul-hulkum, which is a reference to “comforting the throat”..

In the Ottoman Empire, Turkish delight was an essential component of the royal cuisine and even though it goes to the 16th Century Anatolia but it only began to be manufactured for the masses around 1777.

There is plenty of controversy regarding the genesis of Turkish sweets, however it is believed by many that a man whose name was Bekir Efendi or Haci Bekir (Haci or Hajji is a title that was earned after finishing Hajji, the Hajj trip in Makkah) established an establishment selling confectionery in the city in Bahcekapi, Constantinople in 1777.

In addition to the numerous sweets offered at his store there was a mixture of sugar and starch that was dubbed”lokum. The family-owned company that is run by Bekir Efendi, still known as the Haci Bekir company is in its fifth generation.

There is evidence that suggests the recipe for a dessert like Turkish delight was served for centuries by Arabs along with the Persians long before Bekir Efendi discovered them. It’s not clear if there is a poetic tale of how Turkish delight was created it is likely to be the story of a myth, but it is it is an interesting tale.

There was one King who was of the opinion that eating food is a way to please women and as such, he kept diverse unusual recipes within his armor One day, trying to please someone he asked the chefs of the palace to create something that could do the job and this Turkish delight was created!

What exactly is Turkish Delight?

Turkish delight can be described as a delicious sweet made of sugar and starch which forms a gel. It can be sweetened by molasses or honey and is available in a range of delicious flavors.

After the gel is colored and flavoured and cooled, it can become cubes, and coated with icing sugar or desiccated coconut. Alternatively, it could be layered with chopped nuts, or hazelnut paste, and then rolling.

While Turkish delight is made in many countries, the most delicious and most authentic taste can only be experienced in Turkey because the process of making this amazing sweet has been developed in the country.

The most popular types of Turkish Delight

Lokum comes in various delicious kinds and flavors. Some of the most well-known are:

Pistachio

Turkey is among the largest producer of Pistachios around the world, therefore it’s not a surprise you can find Turkish delights in cubes and rolls and various flavors and flavored, which are stuffed or coated with a large quantity of these tasty and colorful green nuts.

Rose

What’s an extravagant gift from the trip to Istanbul than a gift box of rose-scented Turkish delight? While it’s readily accessible in the traditional style of pink cubes coated with rosewater and then dipped in icing sugar across numerous confectionery stores, walk into the spice markets of Turkey and you’ll find rolls of Turkish delights that have been sweetened by honey instead of sugar, and dipped in the dried petals of roses.

Lemon

Get your taste buds excited by slicing through some zesty lemon-flavored lokum. It’s not just refreshing in flavor but also one the more traditional flavors that comes from Turkish Delight.

Pomegranate

Turkey literally is a pomegranate paradise You will also discover a wide variety of nar or pomegranate-flavored foods like molasses tea, drinks, and, of obviously, Turkish delight. Most often, they are coated with dried barberries or cut the pistachio nut, it is without doubt an extremely sought-after flavors of lokum.

Coconut

Coconut flavored as well as coated Turkish delight is delicious and comforting food that is available in a variety rolls that are filled with mouthwatering ingredients like chopped nuts, and even Nutella!

It is believed that the Health Benefits of Turkish Delight

It is believed it is believed that eating Turkish delight is beneficial to remove toxins from your body and clearing acne, in addition to being a good choice for people suffering from kidney disease.

Turkish delight is usually filled with fillings that are energy-rich like coconut and nuts also. However, it’s wise not to indulge too much in food items with a sweet taste therefore, perhaps a smaller portion would be a good alternative to a healthier one the times you’re tempted to reach for the chocolate bar or biscuit while drinking tea.

Turkish Delight from Around the World

Due to the expansion over the Ottoman Empire, and consequently the expansion of Turkish cuisine, a variety of nations have their own variations of Turkish food items and the same applies to Turkish delight. Here are a few countries with their own take on the well-loved dessert.

Bulgaria Like in Turkey Lokum (lokum) is the term used used for Turkish delights found in Bulgaria and is very well-loved within the nation. Lokum made in Bulgaria isn’t usually imported since Bulgaria produces its own version.

Greece is known as loukoumi (loukoumi) within Greece the Greek version of this dessert usually consumed with coffee. The most popular flavor of loukoumi is Greece is in mastic. It is readily available throughout the country.

Another sweet in Greece like loukoumi and is called akanes. It is flavored with goats’ milk butter instead of the fruit essence that is what’s used in the more popular loukoumi.

Akanes is made exclusively within the municipality in Serres and the source of the name goes to the time that it was under Ottoman rule. Akanes was first referred to as hakanes Halva (coming via the Turkish word Han and Kagan, which were initially Mongolian terms that were utilized as titles for rulers meaning that the sweet was reserved for the aristocratic).

Romania – In an effort to undermine Ottoman control over Romania there were a number of Turkish terms that started to be incorporated into the Romanian language were interpreted in a negative way. The term used to describe Turkish pleasure that is spoken in Romanian is rahat. The word originates from the Arabic word rahat ul-hulkum however, the word can also mean “crap”. Despite this double meaning, rahat is popular in Romania and is often added to many traditional cakes.

Albania in the Former Yugoslavia – Known as the rahat-lokum, ratluk, or lokum in Albania and in the former countries in Yugoslavia, Turkish delight was introduced to the zone by Ottomans. It is typically consumed alongside coffee.

North America – Variations of Turkish delight have been made by American companies since the 1930s, and there are a variety of flavors. Certain companies refer to them by the name of the rahat locoum, which is clearly derived from the Arabic term.

Nestle makes chocolate bars in Canada called Big Turk. Big Turk which is Turkish delight smothered in chocolate.

Brazil The country of Brazil Brazil, Turkish delight is called Manjar Turco, Delicia Turca, Bala de Goma Siria or Bala de Goma Arabe. The sweet was introduced across Latin America by Arabs who moved to Brazil.

Britain The United Kingdom Britain as well as a few other countries including Ireland, Australia, Canada Australia, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand, Turkish delight can be enjoyed by way of the chocolate bar Fry’s Turkish Delight that is a rose water flavored Turkish Delight coated in chocolate. Turkish delight is located in a variety of Turkish and international grocery stores particularly in London and the other cities of major importance.