Tatsan Turkish Delight

Turkish Delight, or lokum in Turkish, is a chewy candy made from starch, sugar, and various flavorings, including citrus, rose, and nuts. Early versions of the confection were made using honey and molasses for sweetness, and contained flour, rather than starch. The invention of Turkish Delight as we know it today is attributed to 18th century confectioner Haci Bekir who, in 1777, opened a confectionery and set out to create a softer, more refined candy. He introduced the use of sugar and starch in the candy, which resulted in a smoother, chewier texture. Bekir’s creation was so popular that Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II appointed him to the position of royal confectioner. The position remained in Bekir’s family until 1920. Their family-owned confection shop, called Haci Bekir, is still open in Istanbul, making it Türkiye’s longest running business and one of the 100 oldest businesses in the world.