There are so many countries, cities, and states in the world, each renowned for their own culture and food, that we will be spoiled for choice for the rest of our lives. But we are not complaining. For instance, Turkey is the birthplace of the sweet 'Turkey Delights', that can even be called the 'mithai' of Turkey because of its look and feel. These sweet nibbles just melt in your mouth as soon as you pop it in. Only when you try it do you know that there cannot be a name more befitting.
Turkey is a Middle Eastern country steeped in culture. It is famous for its traditional Turkish tea and coffee, in addition to its carpets and hamams. People all across the world seem to be a fan of all of these. However, Turkish Delights, are something that have not gotten the due recognition or praise they deserve It is a sweet delicacy prepared from starch gel and sugar, that is dusted off with icing sugar.
This is a sweet that comes in a variety of flavours, including rosewater, orange, lemon, cinnamon, and mint. Because of the variety of flavours, these candies are quite colourful and even dazzling, making them a kid's favourite.It is also known as 'Lokum' in the area and is claimed to have originated in Turkey and Iran (Persia) in the late 1800s. The word 'Lokum' is derived from the Arabic word 'al-lukum,' which roughly translates to "throat comfort."
Image source-Freepik
According to some theories, after doing Hajj, a guy named Haci Bekir, a lord in the ottoman empire of the nation, returned to his homeland of 'Kastamoni.' There, he decided to build a sweet confectionery store and began creating these starch-based lokums for the public. He named this store as ‘Haci Bekir Company’ which it is still in operation under the 5th generation of the family.
Some sources also claim that these sweets were created by a man who was having problems with his several wives and decided to produce these delicacies to make them happy and cheer them up. While, we can never be too sure of its origin story, we can't deny that these Turkish delights have all our attention.
Though this sweet treat was only popular in Turkey for the longest time, a British traveller visiting Turkey in the 19th century was so taken aback by its flavour that he carried some back to England and began calling it 'Turkish Delight' instead of the local name 'Lokum.' That's how the name came about. This delicious treat is now famous not just in Turkey, but also in England, where it is served at holidays such as Christmas and New Year's. This dish is progressively gaining popularity around the world.
It's usually made with flour, starch, flavours, dried nuts, fruits, and citric acid. So, why don't we plan our next vacation to Turkey and bring back some of these delicacies to share with our friends and family? I am confident you will not be disappointed.
