this post was submitted on 25 Jan 2024
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Here’s the thing. Unless you’ve been to Turkey and/or know someone with appropriate cultural heritage, you’ve likely never had good Turkish Delight.
There’s a distinct quality difference between TD made with love for people who enjoy quality… and the shitty TD that’s mostly sold to tourists and in supermarkets, aimed at people who don’t know the difference.
When it’s well made, it really is a lovely treat.
I love Turkish delight... The rosewater is my favorite actually... I'm a random American, never been to Turkey, and my only European heritage is like 4 generations back from Italy. But I like kahvesi too (so much so that I got a cezve and learned how to make it), so idk. Maybe I just lucked out and got good quality.
you are now invited to the mangal
Oh man, I love Turkish coffee. I actually want to learn how to do it as well. Even though it’ll probably ruin other coffee for me…
I actually have Turkish neighbours and they love baking/cooking, so we occasionally get plates or trays of something really delicious.
I really love a good baklava as well to go with my coffee. Thankfully that stuff’s quite expensive and difficult to make or I’d eat it daily.
Turkish people definitely know how to make something tasty :D
Yes, kahvesi will definitely ruin regular coffee for you lol. Always craving something more aromatic and rich, brewed coffee will always taste bitter.
This is so true, it hurts. American usually ever have access to Turkish Delight from year-old, mass-produced packages from the factories of big-name candy manufacturers, which are 50% preservatives and unpronounceable additives. This shit has only a passing resemblance to real Turkish Delight.
It doesn't have to be eaten or even made in Turkey; it only has to be well-made. It's easy to get good Turkish Delight in London; I bet you can even find good stuff in NYC, or another large city. It just has to be reasonably fresh, and made with good ingredients and a tiny smidge of pride.
What's really eye opening is growing up on the crap you get in America and then one day trying good Turkish Delight and realizing your childhood was a lie. And what's worse is realizing that it's nearly impossible to find quality stuff where you live.
Sure, it doesn’t have to be ‘geographically’ Turkish - but it certainly tastes better when it’s made by someone who has it in their cultural background. Someone who’s made it their entire life and who learned it from her mother, who learned it from hers, etc.
For example, I buy mine from a very particular shop in Rotterdam here in the Netherlands. They specialise in Turkish Delight, with dozens of varieties. Like you say: they use good, traditional ingredients and it’s made fresh. It’s a place where the local Turks shop, and very highly rated because of their quality. It’s frequently mentioned as some of the best TD in Europe. They even ship it internationally.
I recently got a kilo, just to share with family and some coworkers who have never had it. I wanted to be sure that their first experience of it was a pleasant one. With chewy, flavourful TD made the proper way. Everyone loved it.
Thankfully in the Netherlands, we have a large Turkish population. Which means you can usually find something decent in your own city.
I love a bunch of Turkish sweets and have the pleasure of having authentic Turkish sweets available close to me, but man I just really dislike Turkish delights lol
That’s perfectly fine :D Some things just aren’t to everyone’s taste.
Here in the Netherlands, we absolutely love licorice for example. It’s a very large part of the candy section in any supermarket. Sweet, salty, spicy, hard, soft, you name it. We love it. Meanwhile, your average American nearly throws up if they try it. It’s something that you have to grow up with to really enjoy.
Haha I'm swedish actually so I understand what you mean! I never get tired of watching videos of Americans trying our salty "djungelvrål" licorice, the second they get it on their tongue they almost puke, meanwhile I can't get enough
I think pişmaniye are better than Turkish delight.
Whatever, man. It's just a gummy with an often odd flavor profile that's sprinkled in powdered sugar that anyone could traditionally make in a pan. It's not some 20 ingredient chef banger souffle from a Michelin restaurant that you could never make at home. It's just sugar, lemon, gelatin, and whatever goofball flavor you're sticking in it, like rose-water.