Gaz & Turkish Delight (Rahat Lokum)
I just had my first Turkish Delight candies ... jelly-like squares rolled in powdered sugar. They had delicate Mid-Eastern flavors ... cardomom, rose-water & orange water. They were lovely, soft and like pate de fruit. Looking up some info, I found a good site with picture.
http://www.turkeyforyou.com/travel_turkey_turkish_delight
The name supposedly means "bites of contentment". Mine were ... especially the green cardomom.
There is an intersting history of this sweet which dates back 230 years. One story is that a sultan had his cook create them for his harem because he "believed that the way to a woman’s heart was through her stomach".
My kind of man.
Another story credits the invention to a confectioner named Bekir Effendi. His shop is still making these lovely confections with with pistachios, walnuts, chocolate, oranges, etc.
As to the Gaz ... just a gratuitous mention. Haven't tried them yet. Seems they are a nougat made with pistachios.
http://sekkehgaz.20un.com/20.jpg
Wikipedia on Turkish Delight
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokum
Other Turkish Delight Posts:
Turkish Delight?
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/297850
Liberty Orchards fruit delights at Walgreens & other types
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/41444
Turkish Delight
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/276764
Mail order source for Turkish Delight
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/299574
Turkish Delight recipes:
Scroll waaay down
http://www.dianasdesserts.com/news/news2004-12.html
traditional turkish delights
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/295431
Homemade Turkish Delight?
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/281041
Turkish Delight
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/341557
rworange
Dec 28, 2006 04:26AM
the Turkish Delight candies I ate in Istanbul are a little different than the ones I have tasted here-although they are all delicious.
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Gaz is hands down my favorite Iranian candy. They are indeed nougat with pistachios, but the nougat is flavored with a bit of rosewater. Get them when they're soft and fresh. So good!
Fard makes really good gaz.
http://www.sadaf.com/store/product388...
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I was shopping for New Year's feast and bought some Turkish delights and the nougat candies as well--Happy New Years
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I too bought some Turkish Delight and found it delightful! :-) Ours was flavored with pistachios
I have wanted to try it since seeing Chronicles of Narnia.
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