Turkish Delight

Description

Turkish delight or lokum is a family of confections based on a gel of starch and sugar. Premium varieties consist largely of chopped dates, pistachios, and hazelnuts or walnuts bound by the gel; traditional varieties are often flavored with rosewater, mastic, Bergamot orange, or lemon.

Alternative names: Lokum

Serving temperature: Room temperature

Places of origin: Ottoman Empire, Iran

Main ingredients: Starch, Sugar

Turkish delight is a confectionary item (candy or sweet) dating to the Ottoman Empire’s seat in Persia. Also known as lokum, it is a gel like candy made from a base of starch and sugar. Premium varieties are made with chopped dates, pistachios, almonds, hazelnuts or walnuts bound by the gel; traditional varieties are flavored with rosewater, mastic, Bergamot orange, or lemon.

The varieties available in the Istanbul markets is surprising! There is a variation of every flavor, and the most expensive varieties are made with honey instead of sugar.