Merhaba…

2005 yılından beri başta MTV Türkiye, CNN Türk ve Sinema TV olmak üzere çeşitli kişi ve kuruluşlara İngilizce – Türkçe – İngilizce çeviri, altyazı ve rehberlik hizmetleri vermekteyim.

Hakkımda sayfasından kişisel bilgilerime ulaşabilir, Referanslar sayfasından önceki çalışmalarımı inceleyebilir ve İletişim sayfasından benimle bağlantı kurmak için gereken bilgileri edinebilirsiniz.

The Lion, the Witch and the Turkish Delight

Discovering Exotic Tastes

By Onur Yolalmış

Recently, there has been an increasing demand in the U.K. for Turkish Delight, also known as Lokum. According to Bernie Pacniak, editor in chief of Candy Industry, sales are up 200 percent. Much of this sudden interest is because of The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe movie that was released recently.

For those who are not familiar, this tasty treat plays a prominent role in the movie as the White Witch discovers that Edmund Pevensie’s weakness was his love for a candy called Turkish Delight. In order to convince Edmund to betray his siblings, the witch seduces him with the promise of as much Lokum as he can eat. The piece she gives to him is “sweet and light to the very center” and more delicious than anything he had ever tasted. Soon, the only thing Edmund could think about is “trying to shovel down as much Turkish Delight as he could, and the more he ate the more he wanted”.

This magical confection that makes kids sell their siblings to an evil witch, has been produced in Turkey since 15^th century. Originally, the main ingredients were honey, grape molasses, water and flour. Lokum as we know it today is made with sugar and starch and was popularized by Hacı Bekir in late 18^th century. There are many legends around the invention of Turkish Delight. One is that Sultan Abdul Hamid I, ordered his confectioner to create a “pleasant treat for his many bored mistresses”. Another is that he just wanted soft candies that did not hurt his teeth.

In 1777, Hacı Bekir opened a sweet shop in the Eminönü district of Istanbul at the corner of Hamidiye Avenue and Seyhüllislam Hayri Efendi Avenue, two blocks east of New Mosque (Yeni Cami). Soon, his fame spread throughout the city and served as “Chief Confectioner” to the Ottoman Court between 1725 and 1789. When Hacı Bekir died at the age of 95, the shop passed to his son Muhiddin and then to Muhiddin’s son Ali. The name of the store became Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir.

Today, classic Turkish Delight comes in many forms. It is usually rose flavored but can also be mint, mastic or vanilla. Other varieties may include various nuts (most popular are hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios) and fruits such as strawberry, candied sour cherry, lemon, raspberry and apricot. It is sometimes dipped in chocolate, dusted with confectioner’s sugar or rolled in dried, shredded coconut. In Afyon region, the rich local clotted cream is used to make “Kaymaklı Lokum”. With so many varieties to choose from, there is at least one that would satisfy even the most discriminating palate.

Traditionally, Lokum is used to compliment Turkish coffee and as an after meal treat. Since its introduction to the west in 19^th century, Turkish Delight has been enjoyed by famous names such as Picasso, Napoleon and Winston Churchill. It is offered as a Christmas treat and even makes a perfect gift for your vegan friends since it usually does not contain gelatin or pectin.

Lokum is now made and sold in thousands of shops throughout Turkey. And, just like any good old tradition, Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir Confectioners, continue to sell sweets from the same location for almost 250 years. While visiting any of those shops, do not hesitate to ask for a free sample. Chances are you will discover new ways of satisfying your sweet tooth, like you never had before.