Lokum (Turkish Delight)

Lokum (Turkish Delight) can be found all over the world, but often bearing little resemblance to its original version that is found in Turkey. Lokum contains a variety of nuts, such as walnuts, almonds, and pistachios, and comes in various flavors, ranging from rose and strawberry to lemon and orange. To enjoy original Turkish Delights, purchase a box from the traditional Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir Confectioners.

Baklava

A traditional Turkish dessert made with layers of filo pastry, chopped nuts, sweetened with syrup, and cut into cubes. Baklava comes in a variety of fillings, such as pistachio, chocolate (specialty of Güllüoğlu in the Egyptian Bazaar), chestnut, and kaymak (with clotted cream, a specialty of Güllüoğlu in Karaköy).

Helva

Made from tahin (sesame paste), sugar, and nut butter, this is particularly good after a meal of fish or seafood. This crumbly sweet has a very particular, delicate texture and immediately melts in the mouth. When heated, helva’s main ingredient tahin creates a perfect mixture with pekmez (molasses-like syrup); the mixture is called tahin pekmez, best enjoyed during breakfast with bread.

Cevizli Beypazarı Sucuk

Shaped like a sausage, Cevizli Beypazarı Sucuk, a specialty of Ankara, is a sticky and chewy sweet snack made of walnuts and fruits.

Pikola Sucuk

A specialty coming from Gümüşhane in the Black Sea region, this version of sweet ‘sausage’ is prepared with a mixture of fermented grape and walnuts.

Akide Şekeri

This is a very popular kind of hard candy available in a wide range of flavors and colors. It was traditionally made with unrefined sugar and, hence, it used to be slightly opaque; however, now it is made to be either opaque or clear, depending on how the syrup mixture is prepared. Traditionally served in the Ottoman Empire to the janissaries during a ceremony that signified their loyalty to and appreciation of the Sultan, this sweet has been around for a while for good reason.

Badem Ezmesi

This Turkish variant of marzipan originally came from Persia, and was created by pharmacists who thought the sweet had healing properties. This is debatable, considering its sugar content, but a nice white lie to buy into. For the best marzipans, go to Meşhur Bebek Badem Ezmesi.

Kuruyemiş

Turks are very into nuts—pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, seeds of every kind, and even chickpeas come roasted, plain, or spiced. They can be found in huge quantities and varieties in the Spice (Egyptian) Bazaar, in any grocer, or kuruyemişçi (little shops spread around town that mostly sell dried fruits and nuts).

Kestane Şekeri

Kestane şekeri (chestnuts coated and cooked in sweet syrup) is a particular Turkish delicacy, with the chestnuts coming from the Black Sea region, famed for their great size. A chocolate-coated version is also available and definitely a favorite! The Divan Pastry shops in Bebek and Erenköy are good places to get kestane şekeri. Another place to try kestane şekeri is Kafkas, which specializes in kestane şekeri products. (Kafkas products can be found in their own stores as well as in many grocers.)