Turkish delight rule

Sjmarf@sh.itjust.works to 196@lemmy.blahaj.zone – 866 points –
104

Everyone else who grew up eating them (and fucking loves them) looking at this thread is like:

As a fellow Turkish delight enjoyer, this thread has been eye opening.

I'm working on a theory: most commenters are probably American. Their sweets have so much sugar content over here that I'm starting to believe they don't like Turkish delights because they are somehow less sugary ?

But Turkish sweets are usually the most sugar filled (and greasiest...) sweets you can find? And I guess that's why I love them lol

As an American, I can day it's definitely not the sweetness to me. I find Turkish delight very sweet, almost too sweet. The texture is mostly what hangs me up, as well as a weird flavor I can't put my finger on. It reminds me of gum drop candies? Which are the least popular candies by a lot here, as any child on Halloween will tell you lol.

It may just be one of those locational things where if you didn't grow up with it, you just don't like it? Like peanut butter, I'm told.

Rose-water is one of the common flavourings that would throw off an American.

I dunno... We do have a lot of things with rose water or lavender here. Personally, I don't like either. It makes the food taste like perfume. But they have to be somewhat popular; they sell frequently enough.

Sorry, who doesn't like peanut butter?

Just something I've heard from Europeans occasionally 🤷🏻‍♀️

... What kind of Europeans?

The kind from Europe I'd assume

I'm yet to meet a europe who doesn't like peanut butter and I live in Sweden, 2 years in a student dorm full of EU citizens and internationals.

Interesting! I'm just an insulated American going by what I've heard on various reddit forums in the past. Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to meet too many Europeans personally yet :) Redditors are notoriously full of shit, though, so I shouldn't be surprised.

Tbh, though, I would understand if someone didn't like PB; some times I don't even like it if there's too much.

That flavor is whatever makes fruit cake taste terrible, lemon or orange Turkish Delight is amazing.

Dude Turkish sweets are the sweetest. Baklava (which I love btw) is literally soaking in syrup.

I know, but have you ever tasted a s'more or something like that ? Shit will give you a cavity after 2 bites

I'm an American and I remember liking Turkish delight as a kid. Haven't had it since then because I only had it when my dad got it for me, since he loves it, and I'd rather buy something else.

We talking about actual Turkish delights that are delicious or Cadbury Turkish Delight which is disgusting?

I think this is it. Most of us get the boxed Turkish delight around Christmas time, and based our views on that. Sort of like fruit cake. While I'm still not a huge fan of it, getting some freshly made instead of the shit people normally get in the sake shitty packages makes a world of a difference.

Granted, not everyone is gonna like it either way, but I've heard from a lot of people to get some of the good stuff.

I love Turkish Delight. Maybe it's genetic? Like, maybe it activates something in Mediterranean people?

My boyfriend is from the UK and I gave him authentic Turkish delight, he said he didn't like the rosewater taste.

And that reminds me of the time I reached to a bottle of water in the fridge and only realized by the 2nd "glug" that it was rosewater. It was... okay. I survived.

There are pistachio Turkish delight. The traditional rosé taste is not for everyone.

I must agree, those sweets differ in quality but they are mostly good, some are even great (if you are not afraid of diabetes one may get from just looking at it)

The problem is consistency. Buy some Turkish delight in Istanbul and they're ok, but some in Konya and they're the sweetest thing you'll ever eat, you cannot have them without some proper Turkish black tea.

I like Turkish delight

Fr, Turkish delight is awesome

I've heard it pointed out before that these kids were living on World War 2 rations and, regardless of the quality of Turkish Delight under normal circumstances, it probably tastes a heck of a lot better when you've been eating mostly meat, cheese, and preserves for the last however long (though in Googling it, I see they did get SOME sweets in rations).

That helps explain why Edmund was initially excited about Turkish delight and called it his favorite. The other thing to remember is that Edmund wasn't actually fed Turkish delight in the book. He was fed snow that the White Witch enchanted. The appearance, taste, and resulting thrall were the effects of the witch's magic. He was actually craving Evil Magic Delight when he betrayed his family (until he was redeemed by Lion Christ's sacrifice of course).

I went to London last month and, by all means, any foreign food would be better than whatever those kids were having.

IDK what people are on in this thread; rosewater is a traditional flavor (one not suited for the modern palate) but you can make it in whatever flavor you want.

Tt's basically just a giant jelly bean with no outer shell, and if you get it in a good flavor it's pretty tasty

(one not suited for the modern palate)

Huh?

back in the day people thought rosewater flavor was the shit.

Today it still has its fans, but like anchovies on pizza, most people today have different tastes and don't like it so much.

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.

I’m a random American, never been to Turkey

The rosewater is my favorite actually

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.

My dad used to travel a lot in the 80's due to his job. I asked him to bring Turkish Delights if he ever came across them. I was so stoked when he opened his suitcase and handed me a fancy wooden box full of them.

This was one of the biggest disappointments of my childhood.

Can we at leat agree that the White Witch fed Edmund drugged candy and was suffering from diminished capacity regarding the behavior for which he was convicted?

It was a bullshit charge.

People seriously blame Edmund for how he acted? Knowing he was like, what, 10? 11, maybe? 🤔

Turkish delight has the same energy as mystery meat. The name convinces us it's better than what we think it will be, but it never is.

Why would the name "mystery meat" make you think that it's anything good?

One line of cup noodle in Japan proudly markets its mystery meat prominently on the label. 謎 is a puzzle, riddle, or mystery, and 肉 is meat.

Puzzle meat sounds way better than mystery meat. Mystery meat is scary, puzzle meat is a challenge.

I get the same worried feeling whenever I'm about to eat a food with a sauce described only by its color

It's like nice guys. If you have to say you are, then you probably aren't.

1 more...

For the longest time I thought when people were talking about Turkish Delight, they were in fact talking about Baklava. The disappointment I felt upon first trying Turkish Delight, life just isn't fair

I love Turkish delight. Rose flavor is my favorite

I've seen so many comments like the original tweet and i don't get it. At worst Turkish delight is its perfectly fine. If I were an English child in 1943 it would probably blow my mind

Plus the Turkish delight in the book was conjured by magic so it was probably the best Turkish delight possible

Even within Turkey you have to get Turkish delight from specific places otherwise it is shite. I can't imagine you would be able to find anything worthwhile abroad.

I've had a real one from a Turkish place called Gülloglö, which no longer exists, and it was incredible. It was like a block of rose water, covered in powdered sugar, and biting into it was a floral, sugary, explosion, especially combined with their harsh, dark, Turkish tea -- unbelievable.

I loved that place, and no idea how they went under.

I know it's not "real" Turkish delight but Fry's Turkish Delight is delicious.

It's fucking amazing and not too far off actual Turkish delight. If you buy a block of it and cut it up, it's almost like a hard rose flavoured jelly or gummy. I think it's great myself

If you don't like traditional Turkish delight, I'm totally hooked on Fry's brand Turkish delight.

What I remember in the original movie I had seen (not the more recent ones with CGI but an animated one about the same age as me), they didn't even visually represent the Turkish Delight accurately. I remember them having what looked like fudge or a brownie (possibly baklava). They're actually basically Dots; those nasty gummy candies that I only ever see sold at movie theaters.

In Canada we have a candy bar called Big Turk that is produced by Nestle. It’s sold in every corner store, every gas station. It’s everywhere. I have never in my life ever seen someone purchase one, let alone eat one. No idea what it tastes like. I’ve never seen one out of the wrapper in real life, but the pictures sure do look interesting.

They're good. They aren't really that related to Turkish Delight because it tastes like a chocolate covered gummy.

I grew up in Canada and never really had it, now that I've lived in the US for so long, I crave it

It’s ok… isn’t it just like apricots and nuts or something?

Rosewater and walnut is what I've usually seen, often powdered with like icing sugar or something.

Mmm my mouth is watering already.

You thinking of baklava?

Not at all, that’s phyllo dough layered with honey and nuts

Hmmm 🤔 I guess I was wrong

I'm sorry. But yeah, I was thinking of this fudge-like thing my parents used to get that was some sweet fruit puree with walnuts or pecans. I think it was green or something (maybe pistachios??). But it appears I was incorrect and Turkish Delight is more like gelatin cubes, like a gummy candy.

Yeah i can't remember what it's called but my grandad loved it

They're too sweet by themselves, you have to eat them wrapped between two plain butter biscuits.