Turkish Delight

The perfect way to conclude your Grand Bazaar experience is with a little classroom celebration, complete with a
little piece of Turkish Delight, one of Turkey’s world-famous desserts. The history of Turkish Delight (known as
“lokum”) dates back over 200 years, making it one of the oldest candies in the world. Turkish legend has it that in
his endeavor to quell the rumblings of discontent within his harem, a Turkish sultan summoned all his confectionery
experts and ordered them to produce a unique dessert to add to the collection of secret recipes for which he was
famous. As a result of extensive research, lokum was born.
In 1776, during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamid I, Bekir Effendi, a fully apprenticed confectioner, arrived in Istanbul
and set up a little shop in the center of the city. He quickly won fame and fortune among people with a sweet tooth.
Fashionable ladies began giving Turkish Delight to their friends in special lace handkerchiefs. These were also used
as acts of courting between couples, as documented by traditional Turkish love songs of that era.
Turkish Delight is probably best known among English speakers as the addictive confection to which Edmund
Pevensie succumbs in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis.
Culinary Activity:
Whip up a batch of Turkish Delight for your class (check with your school’s rules first)!
Ingredients: 2 cups of sugar, 2 tablespoons of cornstarch, 1 cup of water, 1/2 teaspoon of cream of tartar, 1
tablespoon of artificial flavoring, 1/2 cup toasted chopped nuts, confectioners’ sugar.
Recipe: Dissolve sugar and cornstarch in water. Add cream of tartar. Boil to 220 degrees F. Cover the pot for the
last 5 minutes. Add artificial flavoring and, if you choose, artificial color. Add nuts. Pour into a greased shallow pan.
When cool, cut into small squares and roll each square in sifted powdered sugar. Store in an airtight container.