About Sultan Turkish Delight
About Us
Sultan Turkish Delight is a proudly Australian owned business based in Melbourne, since 1994 we have been lovingly hand crafting a large variety of traditional and delicious Turkish Delight to both international and local customers. Our family owned company is passionate about bringing you an authentic product using the finest ingredients.
History of
Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight has an illustrious past. It is one of the most ancient sweet dishes in the world, dating back 230 years. There are several stories surrounding its origin.
One legend has that there was a certain Sultan who believed that the way to a woman’s heart was through her stomach. He had in his armor, recipes for some very exotic and innovative dishes, with which he wooed his mistresses.
Once, very eager to please his numerous mistresses, he ordered his chefs to prepare a novel dessert. Thus, the Turkish Delight came into being as a royal delicacy, which very soon became one of the most coveted dishes to have ever come out of the royal kitchens.
According to another legend, the Turkish Delight was the handiwork of a confectioner named Bekir Effendi. Bekir was a native of a small town named Kastamonu, high up in the mountains of Anatolia, who came to Istanbul in 1776 and set up his sweet shop.
He was an ingenious confectioner and the kitchen was his canvas where he gave vent to his imagination. The Turks are famed for their sweet tooth and it was not long before Bekir Effendi wormed his way into their hearts with his Turkish Delights. Soon people were flocking to his eatery.
Turkish Delights wrapped in lace handkerchiefs became a chic gift item amongst the socialites. Couples exchanged them as tokens of love. Turkish Delights also became a popular tidbit.
Bekir Effendi’s soft and tender Turkish Delights soon gained entry into the royal court. The Sultan, fed up with the available tough-as-nails candies, took to Bekir’s creations like a fish to the water. This royal acceptance elevated the Turkish Delight almost to the status of a cult.
Bekir Effendi’s business flourished as even the royal courtesans trudged down the hills to buy from him. He came, he saw and he conquered Istanbul with his brand of Turkish Delights.