Delights

📷:: @lizpeartree

1777 is an auspicious year for such an enduring sweet to have been created. With powder cascading down their jagged slopes, these delights are a winter wonderland.

The Turkish name for the sweet comes from the Arabic rahat-ul hulkum, which means "soothe or heal the throat". This was eventually abbreviated to "lokum." The name "Turkish delight" evolved in the 18th century when an English traveller took some home. He could not pronounce the Arabic name and so coined Turkish delight. It stuck like syrup.

During religious festivals the tradition is for the hostess to offer lokum to guests as soon as they arrive. She passes the powdery cubes saying: "Let's eat sweet. Let's talk sweet."