Lukum is a traditional Turkish sweet made in many countries of the Ottoman Empire. He is loved all over the world. Even today it remains the most popular souvenir that tourists bring not only from Turkey, but also from Greece, Cyprus, Bulgaria and other countries of this region. What is Turkish delight, what it is made of, is there any benefit to the human body in this sweetness, we will consider in detail in this article.
The name of this sweet "Turkish Delight" comes from Arabic and translates rahat - "pleasure, comfort, convenience", lokum (lokum) - pieces. The full name can be translated as "pleasure for the palate" or "pleasure for the throat".
The history of the origin of Turkish delight
There are several versions of the origin of this delicacy. Which of the bottom is true, and which is more commercial, historians cannot yet answer this question. But one thing is for sure - the origins of modern Turkish delight originate in the Ottoman Empire, which existed for six centuries.
According to one version, Turkish delight appeared for the first time in 1777 after a man named Haji Bekir Efendi made a pilgrimage to Mecca. Returning from Mecca, he opened a candy store, which soon became very popular for its handmade sweets. The rumor about popularity reached Sultan Mahmud, who, having summoned a confectioner, made him his chief court confectioner. The Sultan had many wives and mistresses and was very fond of sweets.
After the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, the descendants continued the work of their relative, and after the visit of their grandson Hadji Bekir to Europe in 1897, they introduced Europeans to this delicacy and patented the copyright, trademark and recipe for Turkish delight three years later. It was at this time that this sweetness began to gain popularity in Europe.
However, this origin story is questioned by some culinary historians. According to the Englishman Tim Richardson, his grandfather was one of the first suppliers of sweets to England, Bekir's descendants somewhat exaggerated their importance. He is sure that the Turkish delight recipe is much older and goes back many centuries. A similar recipe made of sugar and starch, cut into small pieces, was known to the Persians as early as the beginning of the 9th century AD. It was called "Rose", which means "New Year".
According to another version, lokum was invented over 500 years also for the sweet-toothed sultan of the Ottoman Empire, who loved sweets and women, after he broke his tooth on a lollipop.
The stories are similar and have a lot in common. Lukum may be over a thousand years old. One thing is for sure, that Hadji Beker gave a new taste to this delicacy by adding nuts to it and inventing a recipe where flour is used instead of starch.
Today, Turkish delight is included in the assortment of almost every confectionery factory located around the world. However, everyone associates the origin of sweets with Turkey and considers it a national confectionery. In Turkey itself, it is traditionally served with Turkish coffee.
What is Turkish delight made from?
The original recipe for Turkish delight includes sugar syrup (or rather molasses), starch and rose water. This delight is called Shaker Delight. Sweetness where flour is present instead of starch is called Turkish delight. Later, nuts began to be added to it, and many people simply call this sweet delicacy simply Turkish delight.
Lukum technology is simple. Diluted starch was mixed with sugar and boiled. The nuts are then added and, after cooling, cut into square pieces and sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Currently, there are many varieties of this delicacy, including without sugar, nuts, with fruit juices, fresh or dried fruits, candied fruit, vanilla, chocolate, coconut, spices.
It is not always square in shape. Now Turkish delight can be bought in the form of rolls, rectangular, multi-layered, colored, cut into figures.
Its name can directly speak about the filler and additives: fruity, ginger, with figs, with pistachios, nutty, with rose petals.
Cooking sweets takes two days. The whole secret of delicious Turkish delight lies in the careful preparation of raw materials and the constant mixing of the sweet mass and the corresponding long cooling. The process cannot be called too laborious or costly, but requires constant attention. Therefore, cooking at home is sometimes problematic. But probably. 
The composition and calorie content of Turkish delight
As mentioned above, the classic Turkish delight recipe includes only starch, sugar and water. Turkish delight with the addition of flower water or honey is considered more expensive.
The composition of the treat directly affects the calorie content of the finished product. Of course, more calories are contained in the product where there are nuts, chocolate, dried fruits. In 100 grams of such Turkish delight, there can be more than 300 calories. Turkish delight with nuts can have over 350-370 calories. But, since it is cut into small pieces, on average one such cube contains about 35-38 calories.
The number of calories is also affected by the type of sugar: ordinary beet or cane, how much it is contained in the finished product.
Colored Turkish delight contains fruit syrup. Classic - traditionally white.
Regardless of whether it is regular Turkish delight without additives, with nuts or other fillers, this sweet is a high-calorie product. And, therefore, no matter how indifferent you are to oriental sweets, you should not consume more than 50 grams, especially if there is a tendency to be overweight.
Turkish delight
Even the biggest sweet tooth is always wondering if there is any benefit in the sweetness that they eat. They seem to be not for use, but for pleasure. Lukum is no exception in this regard. And yet, sweet lovers should be pleased, there are certainly benefits, including in Turkish delight.
Firstly, it is a sweet product, which means that it contains glucose. Glucose has a tonic effect and promotes the release of endorphins into the blood. This, in turn, has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system, the brain, and improves mood.
To a greater extent, of course, the benefits of Turkish delight depend on the additives included in it. Honey has a beneficial effect on the entire body, improves blood composition, digestion and has many other beneficial properties.
Nuts are useful for the brain, saturate the body with vitamins and minerals, give a surge of strength and energy.
In ancient times, Turkish delight was considered a medicinal product. It was believed to improve potency and female sexuality. Yes, and the history of its origin indirectly speaks of this.
The name lokuma itself translates as "pleasure for the throat." Mild taste, healthy additives make this sweet not only tasty, but also healthy. It may have once been the first chewable lozenge for sore throats.
Turkish delight
The main harm from Turkish delight is its calorie content. Carbohydrates are quickly and completely absorbed by the body, which will certainly affect the figure.
The additives that are included in the product may cause an allergic reaction in some people.
This delicacy is contraindicated for patients with diabetes mellitus. True, now there are varieties of Turkish delight with sweeteners.
About the benefits and harms of Turkish delight in the video
