Turkish delight
An assortment of Turkish delight on display in Istanbul | |
| Type | Confection |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Safavid Iran (Iran/Persia), Ottoman Empire (Turkey) |
| Serving temperature | Room temperature |
| Main ingredients | Starch, sugar |
| Ingredients generally used | Fruit, nuts, honey |
| Variations | Multiple |
Turkish delight, or lokum (/ˈlɒkʊm/) is a family of confections based on a gel of starch and sugar. Premium varieties consist largely of chopped dates, pistachios, hazelnuts or walnuts bound by the gel; traditional varieties are often flavored with rosewater, mastic gum, bergamot orange, or lemon. Other common flavors include cinnamon and mint. The confection is often packaged and eaten in small cubes dusted with icing sugar, copra, or powdered cream of tartar to prevent clinging.