Turkish Delight (Lokum)

Turkish delight, known in Turkish as rahat lokum, is a traditional confection with a distinctive gel-like consistency and a delicate sweet flavour. It is made from sugar, starch and water, often flavoured with rose water, lemon, pistachios or walnuts. The surface is usually dusted with icing sugar or desiccated coconut to prevent the pieces from sticking together. It originates from the Ottoman Empire and its history dates back to the 18th century. In the kitchen, it is served as a dessert alongside coffee or tea, added to cakes and pastries, or used as a decoration for oriental sweets.