Turkish delight
Confection | |
Place of origin | Safavid Iran (Iran/Persia)[1] or the Ottoman Empire (Turkey)[2] |
---|---|
Serving temperature | Room temperature |
Main ingredients | Starch, sugar[3][4][5] |
Ingredients generally used | Fruit, nuts, honey |
Variations | Multiple |
Turkish delight or lokum (
The origin of Turkish delight is not precisely known, but the confection is known to have been produced in Turkey and Iran (Persia) since the late 18th century.
History
The exact origin of these sweets is yet to be definitively determined. According to the Hacı Bekir company, Bekir
Tim Richardson, a historian of sweets, has questioned the popular attribution of Hacı Bekir as the inventor of Turkish delight, writing that "specific names and dates are often erroneously associated with the invention of particular sweets, not least for commercial reasons".[1] Similar Arab and Persian recipes, including the use of starch and sugar, predate Bekir by several centuries.[7] The Oxford Companion to Food states that although Bekir is often credited with the invention, there is no hard evidence for it.[8]
Name
The Turkish names lokma and lokum are derived from the Arabic word luqma(t) (لُقْمَة) and its plural luqam (لُقَم) meaning 'morsel' and 'mouthful'
In
In English, it was formerly alternatively known as "lumps of delight".[15]
Around the world
Europe
Bulgaria
In Bulgarian, Turkish delight is known as lokum (локум) and enjoys some popularity. While it presumably came with the Ottoman Empire, it may have arrived earlier. Bulgaria produces its own brands of lokum, which may be plain or spiced with rose petals, white walnuts, or "endreshe".[citation needed]
Greece and Cyprus
In Greece, Turkish delight, known as loukoumi [λουκούμι] has been a very popular delicacy since the 19th century, famously produced in the city of
Romania
In Romania, Turkish delight is called "rahat" and it is eaten as is or is added in many Romanian cakes called cornulețe, cozonac or salam de biscuiţi.[17]
Serbia
In Serbia it is commonly known as Ratluk and as well served along tea and coffee.
Former Ottoman territories in the Balkans
Turkish delight was introduced to European portions of the Ottoman Empire under its rule and has remained popular. Today it is commonly consumed with coffee. Rosewater and walnut are the most common flavorings.[citation needed]
Ireland, the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries
Fry's Turkish Delight, created in 1914,[7] is marketed by Cadbury in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Canada and New Zealand. It is rosewater-flavored, and covered on all sides in milk chocolate. UK production moved to Poland in 2010.[18] Hadji Bey was an Armenian emigrant to Ireland who in 1902 set up an eponymous company – still in existence – to produce rahat lokoum for the Irish and later UK markets.
North America
In Canada, the Big Turk chocolate bar made by Nestlé consists of dark magenta Turkish Delight coated in milk chocolate.
India/Pakistan
In Karachi, now in Pakistan, the "Karachi halwa" was made with corn flour and ghee and became quite popular. It is said to have been developed by
Protected geographical indication
Despite its worldwide popularity and production in several countries, at present, the only
Related products
Turkish delight was an early precursor to the jelly bean, inspiring its gummy interior.[23][24]
In popular culture
Turkish delight features as the enchanted confection the White Witch uses to gain the loyalty of Edmund Pevensie in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950) by C. S. Lewis.[25] Sales of Turkish delight rose following the theatrical release of the 2005 film The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[26]
Cultural Significance
Turkish delight holds deep cultural significance in Turkey, Iran, and across the Middle East and Eastern Europe. it symbolizes hospitality, generosity, and celebration. In Turkey, lokum is a staple during festive occasions such as weddings, where it symbolizes sweetness and prosperity in the couples life together [27]. Similarly, during religious festivals like Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, it is exchanged as gifts among family and friends. In Iran, Turkish delight is a symbol of hospitality and refinement [28]. It is commonly served to guests alongside tea or coffee, representing warmth and respect for visitors [29]. Lokums sweet taste is often seen as a metaphor for the sweetness of life and relationships, making it a beloved symbol of joy and togetherness.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 055381446X.
- ISBN 978-1-61069-220-5.
- ^ "طريقة عمل الملبن السوري الشهير". Dlwaqty (in Arabic). Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ "مقادير وطريقة عمل الملبن". موضوع (in Arabic). Retrieved 1 October 2023.
- ^ Grimes, Lulu. "Turkish delight". GoodFood. BBC. Retrieved 16 November 2023.
- ^ "Haci Bekir, Turkey's Oldest Company, Has Been Sweetening the Mouth for 242 Years". Hacı Bekir. 18 March 2022.
- ^ a b Brown, Jonathan (5 December 2005). "The Lion, the Witch & the Turkish Delight". The Independent. London. Retrieved 5 December 2005.
- ISBN 9780191040726 – via Google Books.
- ^ Diran Kélékian, Dictionnaire Turc–Français (Ottoman Turkish), 1911
- ^ a b James Redhouse, A Turkish and English Dictionary, 1856, p.707.
- ^ Hans Wehr, A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic, 1966, p.365
- ^ "Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006". Official Journal of the European Union. 21 April 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- ^ "Commission Regulation (EC) No 1485/2007". Official Journal of the European Union. 14 December 2007. Retrieved 15 November 2015.
- ^ Colin Turner, A Thematic Dictionary of Modern Persian, 2004
- OL 23951545M.
- ^ "DOOR". Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ISBN 9780470943540.
- ^ Bouckley, Ben. (30 July 2010). "Final UK-made Cadbury Crunchie bars from September". Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ^ History halwa, Paromita Vohra, Mid-Day, 22 November,2020
- ^ The History of Bombay Halwa, 11/1/2021
- ^ A sweet invention: Tracing the history of one of Mumbai's most famous halwas and its creator, Yogessh Pawar, DNA, Dec 05, 2017
- ^ "DOOR". Ec.europa.eu. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ Moncel, Bethany. "The History of Jelly Beans". About.com. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
- The Food Timeline. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ Strickland, Cara (3 August 2016). "Why Was Turkish Delight C.S. Lewis's Guilty Pleasure?". JSTOR Daily.
- ^ Reilly, Susan (17 February 2006). "Turkish Delight Sales Jump After Narnia Chronicles". Info.nhpr.org. Archived from the original on 8 November 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
- ^ "What Does Turkish Delight Symbolise?". Marsel Delights UK LTD. 2023-02-01. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ "Unveiling the Sweet Saga of Turkish Delight: A Historic Journey". 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2024-04-22.
- ^ Yaşar, Amine Berra (2018-08-04). "More than a sweet tooth: Ceremonial desserts of Turkish cuisine". Daily Sabah. Retrieved 2024-04-22.