What is Turkish Delight
Turkish delight, which is called “Lokum” in Turkish, is a traditional sweet that originates from Turkey. It is a delicacy or dessert, that is mainly eaten while drinking tea or coffee.
It is made from simple ingredients like sugar, water, and starch, which are combined to create a chewy and slightly sticky texture. The mixture is often flavored with a variety of ingredients, like pistachios, and then dusted with powdered sugar or coconut to prevent sticking.
Where to buy Turkish delight
It is a very popular souvenir for tourists that visit Turkey and is often packaged in decorative boxes, making it a thoughtful gift to bring back from a trip.
Grand Bazaar:
Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar is one of the most famous and historic markets in the city. You’ll find numerous shops and stalls offering a wide variety of Turkish delight flavors and packaging.
This is where we bought our Turkish delights as souvenirs, they will let you try them all before choosing which ones do you want, they will even bring you tea. We bought them in the Grand Bazaar as it was recommended by our guide.
How it works is there are various sizes of boxes, and then you choose which Turkish delights do you want. You can taste them and choose your favourite. You will pay for the weight of the box. Do not worry, the box is very light, you will not be cheated in this regard.
For more information on the Grand Bazaar check out this post.
Other Bazaars:
For example the Spice Bazaar, the Arasta Bazaar, or the Saltanhmet Square. You can find a range of Turkish delight options here, often presented in attractive displays.
The Saltanhmet Square is a popular tourist area near major attractions often has souvenir shops that sell Turkish delight in decorative packaging. If you are near the area, it is a great option to buy the Turkish delights.
Local Sweet Shops:
Throughout Istanbul, you’ll find local sweet shops that offer a variety of confections, including Turkish delight. These shops can often provide insights into the different flavors and options available.
Airports:
If you’re departing from Istanbul, both Istanbul Atatürk Airport and Istanbul Airport have duty-free shops where you can purchase Turkish delight as a last-minute souvenir. I would not recommend buying it at the airport, as it will probably be more expensive and your do not get to choose what delights you put in, you do not get to taste them before, basically you miss the whole experience of choosing you favorite Turkish Delights on a real Bazaar.
What does Turkish delight taste like
Turkish delight comes in a wide range of flavors, including but not limited to rose, lemon, orange, pomegranate, mint, pistachio, hazelnut, cinnamon, and more. Each flavor brings its own unique taste profile.
The great thing is that you can choose what flavors you want. Taste them all beforehand and choose the ones you like the most. I recommend you to not choose the ones you thing your relatives will like the most, choose the ones you like the most or that are the best tasting.
Pistachios have become an integral part of Turkish cuisine, contributing to the rich culinary heritage that is appreciated and celebrated both locally and globally. Turkey’s climate and geographical conditions are well-suited for pistachio cultivation. The country’s diverse climate zones, including regions with hot and dry summers, provide an ideal environment for pistachio trees to thrive.
Therefore pistachios are everywhere in Turkish cuisine, and Turkish delight is not an exception. A lot of Turkish delights do have pistachios in them.
How many calories in a Turkish delight
On average 10 grams are about 50 calories. It heavily depends on the ingredients used in the particular Turkish delight. They are primarily made from sugar, water, and starch, with additional ingredients such as flavorings (rose, lemon, fruit, etc.) and sometimes nuts. The calorie content can increase if the Turkish delight is coated in powdered sugar or coconut.
It is essential to check the product’s label or get in touch with the producer if you are searching for precise nutritional information for a certain type or brand of Turkish delight. Remember that Turkish delight can still be a tasty treat when consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
How long does Turkish delight last
We are not talking about homemade Turkish delight as if you bought it from a Grand Bazaar or another of the listed places above, you will probably buy it commercially packages, which means sealed with a plastic in order for it to be transportated on the airplane without a problem.
A sealed box of Turkish delights can last from 6 to 12 months. The vendors will ask you if you want it sealed as it is popular as a souvenir and this way is better preserved. Once open is it recommended to be consumed in no more than month to preserve the freshness of the product.
Also these are some recommendations to make them last longer:
- Keep it out of direct sunlight, high humidity, and extreme temperature changes in a cold, dry location.
- To keep moisture and odors from changing the flavor and texture, store it in an airtight container.
- Turkish delight should be consumed within a fair amount of time if it contains nuts or other perishable components because they may reduce its shelf life.
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