An old Turkish aphorism tells one to “eat
sweetly and speak sweetly”. Sweets have
always been an important component of Turkish
cuisine.The
origin of Lokum (Turkish Delight) dates back to
the time of the Ottoman Empire. A part of
Turkish culture for centuries, the recipe has
remained virtually unchanged from its inception.
Before the 18th century, honey and grape
molasses were the only sweetening agents
available to Turkish confectioners. With the
introduction of sugar in the late 18th century,
Turkey awakened to a new era of sweet making.
Sugar brought with it the beginning of endless
creative possibilities to Turkish confectioners.
It was during this time that Lokum, one of the
oldest known confections in the world was
created in the great kitchens of the Ottoman
Court.
A whimsical tale tells of the creation of
Turkish Delight: In an attempt to appease his
many wives, a famous Sultan ordered his
confectioner to create a unique sweet. Eager to
please his Sultan, the confectioner blended a
concoction of sugar syrup, various flavourings,
nuts and dried fruits then bound them together
with mastic (gum arabic). After many attempts,
the delicately scented and sugary sweet Lokum -
better known in the West as Turkish Delight -
was created. The Sultan was so taken by this
elegant new creation that he appointed the sweet
maker the court’s Chief Confectioner. Thereafter,
a plate of Lokum was served at daily feasts in
the Ottoman Court.
Lokum was
unveiled to the west in the 19th century. During
his travels to Istanbul, an unknown British
traveler became very fond of the Turkish
delicacies, purchased cases of Lokum and he
shipped them to Britain under the name Turkish
Delight.
Today, Turkish
Delight remains the sweet of choice in many
Turkish homes. Enjoyed world wide, the subtle
flavours of Turkish Delight finely compliment
coffee and sweeten the breath at the end of a
meal. Traditionally offered at Christmas in the
West, Turkish Delight is becoming increasingly
popular as a confection to be enjoyed year-round.
BAKLAVA
Baklava
is one of the oldest known Turkish desserts. Its
popularity goes back to the time of Sultan
Mehmet of the Ottoman Empire. Today, no
traditional Turkish meal would be complete
without baklava for dessert. Gulluoglu is
Turkey’s cherished brand of baklava - flaky
layers of whisper-thin pastry bursting with
pistachios, touched with golden butter, gently
enveloped in a honey syrup. No holiday, wedding
or dinner party could be considered without it.
Serve this exquisite pastry to special guests
with strong and sweet Turkish coffee. Güllüoglu
Confectionery has a variety of BAKLAVA range.
Please feel free to browse our wide selection
below.
