Famous Turkish Sweets and Treats

While Turkey is known for its rich culture, the country also holds some of the best kept secrets of desserts which are sheer ambrosia to the senses. In the holy month of Ramadan, with the sight of a new crescent moon in the lavender sky, families gather together to greet each other and the taste of the sweetest sugar feels sweeter.

The end of the holy month is also known as Sugar Feast in Turkey as desserts and sweets are a common practice to greet the guests to mark the celebration of Eid. Famous for its mix of flavours and health benefits, Meditterranean diet mostly consists of traditional foods from the 19th century. It is also said that you could explore half of the Middle East through its flavours. One way is to order from a Mediterranean restaurant in a non-Mediterranean country, while the other way could be acquainting the self with exotic ingredients from the region while tasting them in their most original form.

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Now, let us go on this sweet journey through Turkey as we taste the flavours through our thoughts while we visualize the beautiful flavours of Middle East.

Ottoman Elegance in Every Bite: The Legacy of Turkish Sweets

Besides simple flavours for the mouth like Baklava, which is also Turkey’s national dessert, the best of traditional shops can be explored in Istanbul for those in search of an authentic taste. Sweets as simple as Turkish rice pudding have been prepared for many generations by the local shops around Istanbul.

So, as you roam around the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, the largest covered market in the world and also known as world's first shopping mall, be prepared to witness the ocean of colourful candies decorated along a chain of shops welcoming visitors, not to mention the thousands of other shops selling everything one could imagine to buy as a souvenir.

While Turkish delight, which is also called lokum in traditional language, is famous all over the world for its richness, Turkey is home to even more sweeter inventions than these assortments of sweets coated with flavours.

Desserts as simple as Turkish clotted cream with bread pudding to even those taking several hours to make and are only available in local shops run since generations make it worth visiting the place for its original taste.

Here's a list of famous Turkish sweets and treats, along with explanations:

Baklava

A legendary Turkish dessert that originated from Ottoman kitchens, made of layers of thin phyllo dough, sweetened with sugar syrup or honey and filled with dry fruits like pistachios and walnuts.

Turkish Delight (Lokum)

It’s a soft, jelly-like cube, flavored with ingredients like rosewater, lemon, or pomegranate and dusted with powdered sugar.

Künefe

It is a warm desert in which the shredded phyllo dough with layering of cheese is baked. When it is baked to perfection, syrup is poured on top.

Sütlaç (Rice Pudding)

A classic dessert made of rice, milk and sugar and then baked in the oven. It is a common staple dessert in Turkish homes.

Revani

This is a cake made of semolina and soaked in syrup. The flavour includes lemon or orange zest. People prefer to eat this moist semolina cake after a rich meal.

Tavuk Göğsü (Chicken Breast Pudding)

This is an Ottoman cuisine. Yes, as the name suggests, this dessert is made of shredded chicken breast, milk, sugar, and rice flour. The ingredients sound weird, right? But despite this unusual combination, it is sweet and silky and has no chicken flavour.

Helva

It is made of semolina, flour, or tahini (comprises sesame paste) and cooked with butter, pine nuts, sugar, and milk.

Şekerpare

Şekerpare means piece of sugar and as the name suggests, it tastes exactly like the name. This is a cookie made from semolina and flour, after baking it is soaked in lemon syrup.

Aşure (Noah’s Pudding)

This is a traditional dessert made of a mix of grains (mostly consisting of wheat), legumes, dried fruits, and nuts. during the Islamic month of Muharram Aşure is prepared and is shared with friends and neighbours.

READ MORE: In addition to gardens Istanbul has plenty more to offer, learn about them at exploring tourist attractions of Istanbul.

Turkish Herbal Teas: Ancient Remedies in Modern Cups

Sugar and health might not be the best of friends but what happens when there is freshness of herbs which gives the double benefit of taste with good health?

Many local bazaars in Istanbul are full of vendors selling sweets of various textures which are famous both among locals and tourists alike. There are various herbal drinks which have been popular since the times of the Ottomans and still come in a variety of flavours. In Turkey, herbal tea is usually used for medicinal purposes with flavours coming from a range of flowers and fruits.

Those who are health conscious, try the Turkish herbal teas, some of the most famous and widely enjoyed include:

Ihlamur (Linden Flower Tea)

• Flavor: Floral, light and mildly sweet.
• How to consume: For extra warmth brew it with cinnamon and cloves.
• Benefits: Sipping this herbal tea can be a comforting remedy for cold, coughs, and anxiety.

Adaçayı (Sage Tea)

• Flavor: Earthy, strong and slightly bitter.
• How to consume: Commonly taken plain or lightly sweetened with honey and add a hint of lemon for flavour.
• Benefits: Drinking this tea is a natural way to feel better when dealing with digestion, easing sore throats, and boosting immunity.

Papatya Çayı (Chamomile Tea)

• Flavor: Delicate, floral, and calming.
• How to consume: Brew chamomile tea by soaking the tea bag 5–10 minutes
• Benefits: This natural remedy enhances sleep, reduces stress, and eases stomach aches.

Nane-Limon (Mint & Lemon Tea)

• Flavor: Citrusy and refreshing.
• How to consume: Prepare mint and lemon tea by steeping it in hot water, and drinking it warm for calming effects.
• Benefits: A home remedy during flu season, good for upset stomachs, colds, and nausea.

Just because knowledge could be fun, Turkey is also home to world's first green ice cream factory. The ice cream plant set in the country is based on using alternative sources of energy for production. Although the ice cream that comes out of it might be just the regular flavour!

Sweet, Chewy, and Full of Tricks: All About Turkey's Dondurma Ice Cream

Ice Cream

There would probably be no part of the world which would be unfamiliar with the term ice cream, but what is famous about Turkish ice cream is its unique texture, something very different from the one found in Western cultures. The ingredient used in its preparation makes it seem like heat resistant in nature, which in most cases would require a spoon to consume a bite due to its chewiness.

Dondruma, or Maras ice cream in Turkish, is much thicker and chewy than the regular ice cream found anywhere else due to being made from the raisin obtained from the Mastic tree. For its unmeltable texture, it is also served in a unique way by vendors around Istanbul. Make sure that you grab your ice cream before it melts away or not, as your vendor might not be easily willing to give you one.

What Makes Dondurma (Turkish Ice Cream) Unique?

Elastic Texture: Dondurma is known to have an elastic and slightly chewy texture, this is because of:

• Salep: It is a unique flour made from the root of a wild orchid, the main reason for thickness and elasticity.
• Mastic: It is a natural resin, reason for chewy texture.

Slow-Melting: Because of the presence of salep (powdered root of wild orchids), the ice cream melts slower than regular ice creams. So even in hot weather, your ice cream will melt immediately. Have a long lasting enjoyment.

Served with a Show: To make buying Dondurma ice cream fun from the vendor, the sellers wear traditional clothes and before finally handing over the ice they will play tricks on you.

Where to Try It?

• Kahramanmaraş: Want to eat the Turkish ice cream where it originated? Head to Dondurma, its birthplace, located in southeastern Turkey. Also, called Maraş Dondurması.
• Istanbul: You will find it in Istiklal Street, Sultanahmet, and near Galata Tower.
• Antalya, Bodrum, and Cappadocia: In these tourist spots there are many ice cream stalls.

READ MORE: Turkey is full of natural wonders and ancient secrets, find out more at Lakes and Beyond – Wonders of Turkey.

Secret Fruits available in Turkey

Mediterranean diet is loaded with fruits from the region which are consumed as salads and also the  main courses. Some of the raw fruits in the region include pears, melons and peaches, which although are available elsewhere, but eating a good Mediterranean fruit salad on a table by the sea would surely be as refreshing as it sounds.

There are as many as 70 varieties of fruits available in Turkey, with some of them being very less used elsewhere. Quince, one of the exotic fruits in the region, is something resembling between an apple and a pear, and is famous for its nice aroma. Besides many of the fruits due to their non transportable nature, could be found in best of their taste in their home country. Like the case of figs which is considered as one of the best fruits of Turkey.

Explore Little Hagia Sophia for shops and markets

While the big sister of this ancient monument is located just minutes away from this site, this centuries old church turned mosque, also known as Little Hagia Sophia, is a secluded little place by the Marmara sea, with many little shops and markets by its side.

Wait! weren’t we just talking about sweets?

Trabazon, the town home to this age-old monument, has a number of shops located in the main square with a tea garden at the center making it a nice place to spend some time in silence while witnessing a quiet side of Istanbul.

Have Dates for a Good Heart

In the Mediterrenean region of Turkey, date palm trees are a common sight where the fruits get plenty of exposure in the Arabian sun. In the rest of the world, dates could be restricted to dry fruits whereas in the Middle East the fruit is prepared in various forms of desserts, something which can only be explored while travelling through Turkish bazaars. The sweetest part this fruit is known for is the tradition of breaking the holy month of fasting with the first bite of dates.

It is said in Arabic that he who has health has hope and who has hope has everything. What better way to look for health when in the company of good Middle Eastern dates? The ordinary dates in packets could be way more different than the one’s found in this region. So on your next visit to this land, be sure to get a good greeting of dates with Turkish tea.

With the sweetness of the sweetest sugar getting sour in front of these Mediterranrean delights, it would surely be a different experience to get an undiscovered taste in this country of Middle East. And who knows, by your next visit to Istanbul you might be sure just where to find the sweetest side of Turkey.

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