Turkish delights

"Eat sweetly and speak sweetly"

Old Turkish saying

Some nice party guests brought us this box of authentic Turkish Delight a few weeks ago.  It's an addictive candy, with a firm chewy texture and a subtle flavor good with tea or coffee.  Like a Washington Aplet or Cotlet candy, but not as sweet.

Before the 18th century, honey and grape molasses were the only sweetening agents in Turkey, but sweets were always an important part of Turkish cuisine. When sugar was introduced in the 19th century, it brought endless creative possibilities to the candy makers. The legend goes that in an attempt to please his many picky wives, a sultan ordered his confectioner to create a unique sweet and make them all happy.

The sugared nuts and dried fruits are bound together with mastic, cut into squares and covered with powdered sugar. Gum arabic (mastic) is the hardened sap of the Acacia senegal tree.  It's a tasteless natural substance used in countless food products and industrial applications.

 Yum?

In the 19th century, an unknown British traveler purchased cases of "rahat lokoum" and sent it home under the name Turkish Delight. And so it became known the the rest of the world. Our box is almost gone already, but they say it keeps a year in an airtight container. Napoleon and Winston Churchill apparently loved Turkish Delight, and Picasso ate it daily to improve his concentration.  You can't argue with genius.