Serving Only The Best Real Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight, also known as Lokum, is a traditional sweet made from starch and sugar, with a soft, chewy texture. The finest varieties often include pistachios, hazelnuts, or almonds, and are naturally flavoured with ingredients like rosewater, lemon, clove, or cinnamon. Real Turkish Delight contains no gelatine and has a smooth, melt-in-the-mouth consistency.
Authentic Turkish Delight is typically made from:
Water
Granulated sugar
Lemon juice
Cornflour
Cream of tartar
Rosewater or other natural flavourings
Icing sugar (for coating)
A small amount of vegetable oil (to prevent sticking)
However the ingredients can vary between confectioners. If you have an allergy or dietary requirements, always check the ingredients.
The most loved Turkish Delight flavours include:
Rose
Pistachio
Strawberry
Mint
Cinnamon
These flavours are enjoyed both on their own and in assorted gift boxes.
According to Ottoman legend, a Sultan, overwhelmed by the demands of his many mistresses, summoned his confectioners and requested a new dessert that was soft, soothing, and unlike anything else. In response, they created the very first Lokum, which quickly became a palace favourite.
Historically, Turkish Delight was invented in 1777 by Bekir Efendi, later known as Hacı Bekir, a confectioner who moved to Istanbul from eastern Anatolia. He opened a sweet shop that soon gained fame for producing soft, fragrant cubes of delight made with sugar, starch, and natural flavourings. His creation became popular across the empire and earned him the title Chief Confectioner to the Ottoman Court.
Yes — Turkish Delight is classed as a solid food and is permitted in carry-on luggage. There are no restrictions on transporting confectionery through airport security.
Yes, real authentic Turkish Delight is vegan-friendly. It contains no gelatine or animal-derived ingredients, unlike many Western sweets. This makes it suitable for vegetarians and vegans alike.
Be aware that some sellers of Turkish Delight (especially supermarkets) sell Turkish Delight made of gelatine either as an attempt to change the recipe to suit a wider audience, or to keep production costs low. If you want to be sure that you're getting the real authentic stuff, you can create your own box of it here.
Turkish Delight has a naturally long shelf life due to its high sugar content. When stored properly, it can keep for 8–10 months or longer.
Store Turkish Delight in a cool, dry place at room temperature. For longer storage or in warm climates, it can also be refrigerated. Keep it in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out.
For authentic Turkish Delight in Istanbul, we recommend Ali Muhiddin Hacı Bekir, one of the oldest and most respected producers. You can find their shops in Taksim or Kadıköy.
In Turkey, Turkish Delight is often served alongside a cup of strong Turkish coffee, especially when welcoming guests. It’s also enjoyed as an afternoon treat or shared at special occasions like weddings and holidays.
Turkish Delight is one of Turkey’s most iconic exports. It is well known for its appearance in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, where it famously tempts Edmund. It’s also featured in many classic films and books. Nearly every sweet shop in Turkey sells Lokum, in a wide variety of flavours and nut fillings.
Turkish Delight is sweet because it begins with boiled sugar and water to form a syrup, which is then thickened using cornflour. The absence of gelatine and the presence of natural flavourings give it a soft texture and a distinctive sweetness that sets it apart from other chewy candies.
Yes. All Sultan Delights varieties are halal friendly. We use no animal-derived ingredients, no gelatine, and no alcohol-based flavourings. Our Turkish delight is made from cornstarch, sugar, and natural flavourings.
A single piece of Sultan Turkish Delight contains approximately 40–50 calories, depending on the flavour. Nut-based varieties (Hazelnut, Almond & Coconut) are slightly higher due to the nut content. Turkish delight is lower in fat than most chocolate-based confectionery.
Yes. Lokum is the original Turkish name for the confection known in English as Turkish delight. The name “Turkish delight” was coined by a British traveller in the 19th century. In Turkey, it has always been called lokum.
Absolutely. Many of our customers order boxes specifically as gifts. Each box is freshly packed and sealed for transit. You can enter a different delivery address at checkout and add a personal message. Our Turkish delight makes a thoughtful gift for birthdays, Eid, Christmas, weddings, and thank-you gestures.
Currently we deliver within the UK only. We’re exploring international shipping options and hope to offer this in the future. Sign up to our newsletter for updates.