I was looking over previous posts in my blog and realized that I haven’t told about lokum yet. So what am I waiting for? Lokum is known as Turkish delight in English and around the world. However, I will use its Turkish version, lokum in this post. Lokum is a Turkish traditional confection which is like a jelly candy.It has a soft, elastic texture and coated with powder sugar or coconut. You must see its bright jelly when you bite. There are hundreds of variatons, so you can see lokum in various colors, sizes, shapes (in cubes or rolls) and flavors. Some are softer, some are thicker, some are flavored with fruit, rosewater or gum mastic, some have pistachios, hazelnuts or walnuts and some are plain. But their main ingredients are the same: sugar, starch, water and citric acid.
Its origin goes back to Ottoman times and it was the major delight for most of its people. Its reputation continued after the collapse of Ottoman Empire. As its ingredients were so simple, it was affordable for everyone and this made it their sole dessert. People would celebrate every important event with lokum. When they had important guests, they would serve lokum after dinner. Children’s eyes would light up when they were given lokum in cute hand made handkerchieves during festivals. People would take a package of lokum to the family of their bride to be at their first meeting. It means they want to have a conversation as sweet as lokum. And it was a good way to persuade the family to approve the daughter’s marriage with their son.
Today it still plays the leading role for important events for tradition lovers. As chocolate has a stronger industry network, it seems like lokum has been dethroned by chocolate. It can be said that tourists visiting Turkey eat lokum more than local people. However, it still keeps its crown for a few events. There is an islamic ceremony called mevlit, which is a poem telling about the birth of the Prophet Muhammed and it is held by most of the people in memory of someone in their family or when they are newly married or when they buy a new house. People invite guests to listen to imam who says this poem aloud with a melodic tone. And lokum is served to guests after he finishes the poem.
Also, it is still the greatest treat to serve with Turkish coffee. If you think chocolate goes perfect with Turkish coffee, I strongly recommend you to try it with lokum. Turkish coffee was served sugar free and people would balance its bitterness with lokum in their mouth. They would keep sucking a cube of lokum in their mouth until they finish their coffee. It’s not the method we use today as sugar in coffee is optional, but it’s still great with Turkish coffee.
Also, lokum is a word used for metaphors in Turkish language. Lokum-like person means a person with a good character, lokum-like peach(or any other fruit) means it is ripe enough, lokum-like lamb(or any other meat) means it is cooked very well.
Finally, I would like to share the recipe of my favorite snack with lokum: Get two biscuits, put a cube of lokum between them and press gently. Your lokum sandwich is ready!
I will not give an exact recipe of lokum as it’s not something we make at home, so try to find it at nearest Asian market or online markets.
36 Comments on "Turkish Delight Lokum"
Such pretty little treats!
These look Highly Addictive!
I want to try this some day. I tried to win some during one of the blogger contests last year (I don’t remember which contest it was though.) I hope to visit Turkey one day. I love the country, its traditions, food and culture. Oh, and that Turkish coffee, too. Thank you for sharing your traditions, as always!
Thanks for teaching us more about lokum! These are such lovely delicious treats!
Cool!!! A nice Turkish sweet treat. I love how you can put then in between bread for a sandwich. Hehe… No need to a spread, just put some lokum.
I want one of those lokum sandwiches! I’ve never heard of this sweet concoction and I appreciated the thorough introduction and explanation. Thank you for sharing this with us.
looks soft delicious
I love lokum, we used to eat it in lebanon with biscuits.
It’s been a really long time since I had it…
I love these and in Lebanon we eat them with two biscuits as well!
Never had these. I will have to try them!
Zerrin,
These really do look addictive!
One of my favorite desserts, love it with coffee… these cubes are insane
Cheers,
Gera
This is something I have never tried Zerrin, but have heard so much about. Thanks for the great information about it! I hope I have a chance to taste is one day.
I was dying for the recipe. My husband is from the Balkans and it is everywhere. I love the rose – he loves the walnut. I want the recipe.
Valerie (Everything is better homemade)
I adore lokum, and always buy some at an ethnic store whenever we’re in Milan. My favorite is the rose-flavored one!
Lokum is one of my favorite treats. Your post was very interesting and informative, thanks for sharing!
These are some of my favourite desserts. I love the soft bite into it. Beautiful post.
So very, very delicious. One of the world’s great treats. A glass of thick and bitter Turkish coffee to go with it and you’re in heaven!
Looks amazing. I make something very similar to this with rose water and it is so tasty. i cannot wait to try your version. Hope you are doing great and school is going well.
I have to admit that I can’t stand Turkish Delight, but that may be because while we lived in Lebanon we always had the rose flavored variety and I was just 8-9 at the time so it was just nasty for a kid. Now, when I see it, that’s all I think about. The other thing that comes to mind is The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. The witch tempted Edmund with Turkish delight.
Anyhow, your photography makes it look wonderful so now I wonder if I would enjoy it in a different flavor as an adult. I’ll have to give it a try.
Zerrin, lokumlarımızı ne de güzel anlatmışsın, bayıldım. Çifte kavrulmuş lokum da benim favorimdir. Burada cumartesi günü pazar kuruluyor, turistler en çok lokum ve baharat satın alıyorlar.
Sevgiler.
I love lokum! Those are so beautiful!
Eileen- Thank you!
EddieStar- So addictive that you can not stop eating!
Leesie- You must try it as soon as possible! And don’t forget to order Turkish coffee with it!
Natasha- It’s a pleasure for me to tell about our traditions and treats. Glad to hear you love it.
Jenn- It was a much better sandwich than one with nutella!
Monet- You must try these sweet cubes as soon as possible! You will love these.
Torviewtoronto- Thank you!
Cherine- It was just children’s way to eat it with biscuits here. You must do it again!
Tasteofbeirut- They are perfect between biscuits!
Maria- You must try them! I’m sure you will be addicted!
Ryan- Thank you! So addictive that one is never enough!
Gera- Wow you know it with Turkish coffee! Aren’t they wonderful together?
Reeni- Maybe you can find them in Asian markets. You must try lokum!
Valerie- Sorry, I don’t have its recipe. I must search if anyone tries it at home.
Rowena- Rose-flavored ones are definitely great, and so refreshing.But my favorite ones are with nuts.
Faith- Isn’t it a heavenly treat? Noone can resist them!
MaryMoh- It’s great to feel the softness inside, and I love its powdered texture, too.
Vibey- Turkish coffee and lokum are perfect couples!
Oyster- I’ve never tried to make it at home. Maybe I must learn some day. And I’m so busy at school that I sometimes need to be cloned. But it’s great to be with students. Thank you!
The Mom Chef- I don’t know if it’s different in Turkey and Lebanon, but I highly recommend you to give it a try. Maybe it’s not the same as the one you had as a child.
Dokuzuncubulut- Çifte kavrulmuşunu ben de çok severim. Hele de içlerinde antep fıstığı olursa…Benim de dikkatimi çeken şey, turistlerin tek seferde bizden çok daha fazla yemeleri.
Dimah- Thank you!
Oh Zerrin so lovely! I love all the colors. one of our favorite confections!
Haven’t made it at home since the only one time I made. It is too much work.
I love these. I might have even shed a tear when I took a bite of the last Turkish delight we bought from Turkey. I have thought of making it at home but just havent found the time.
Zerrin, I love Turkish Delights! I loved tasting different flavors & varieties at the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul this past June!
love em! my mum always craved em. the lebanese also sandwich it between too plain cookies and smoosh it and eat it
nowadays this is the most sincere post written about lokum! yes it’s irresitable, traditional and comforting treat! give it a chance and try at home, u can find the recipe at Deniz Gürsoy’s book, which is called Acı Şeker…
MMMMMMMM,..I love these sweets.
I bet they were delicious!
I do enjoy lokum and used to buy them every year close to holidays when I find them at the stores. This company has a chocolate coated version which is delicious but I have to take them sparingly as they are so sweet.
THanks for sharing Zerrin. I love learning about foods & treats from other places.
Açıkçası ben tatlıyla aram olmadığı için lokumu ancak bayramlarda yiyebilen biriyim, ama öyle güzel anlatmışsınız ki canım lokum çekti.
) bu arada lokum gibi bir site olmuş, tebrik ediyorum… 
bununla birlikte sizden bir de ricam olacak aslında, internette sık sık rastladığım greek yogurt teriminin bizim torba yoğurdumuz için kullanıldığını düşünüyorum ve açıkçası yogurdun greek olması nedense garibime gidiyor. torba yoğurt ile yapılabilecek bir tarife de yer vermeniz mümkün mü? sevgiler, başarılar…
Nazik sözleriniz için teşekkür ederim!
Süzme (torba) yogurda neden greek yogurt diyorlar bilemiyorum, ama sanırım yurtdışında marketlerde o şekilde satılıyor. “Side dishes and mezzes” kategorisinde iki tarifim var süzme yogurt kullanılan (Eggplant/Aubergine with Yogurt ve Celery Root Salad). Bu tariflerde ‘Strained yogurt’ olarak geçiyor.
i like hearing the background of foods!
thanks for sharing that with us
i definitely need the recipe for this!!
Congratulations, I love your page and thanks for share so nice things with us. I lived some time in Bulgaria and they’ve addopted a lot of turkish food. I’ve eatten it there and loved it. I tasted Lokum and my brain and toungue still remembers it’s sublime flavor. Pls if u should search for the recipe, I would be so so pleassured. Thank you, greetings.
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