Many of us read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as children, were almost as enthralled as Edmund at the thought of Turkish Delight, then later in life discovered what it really is, sort of a rosewater jelly: at best, nothing much to get excited about if you hadn’t just come out of the deprivations of WWII; and at worst, revolting. One wag on Twitter has said: “If you read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as a child, then finally tasted it, you may be entitled to compensation.” I’m looking up the number of that law office now.
But what did you think it was, as a child? My partner thought it was a flaky pastry. I thought it was a very soft and creamy type of toffee caramel.
My first encounter to the book was my mother reading it to me. I’m pretty sure that by the time I learned to read myself, I already had the story memorized. And so naturally, when I didn’t know what Turkish delight was, I asked her. And I’m pretty sure she knew what it was, and answered. Though of course, without ever having tasted roses, telling us it was rose-flavored candy didn’t really say much more than just telling us it was candy.
There was also a time in my childhood when Mom found actual Turkish delight somewhere, and knowing that my sister and I would be curious what it was like, bought it for us. Neither of us found it revolting, but nor did we think it was anything worth betraying each other over (we had plenty of other reasons to do that).
I’ve always imagined Turkish delight as being the same as salt-water taffy, though technically I know what it is, sort of - that is, I know what it looks like. I don’t recall ever actually eating it, though.
I love Fry’s Turkish Delight which is a chocolate covered version, although i haven’t had it for decades.
That’s how i knew what it was in the wardrobe book.
Now i want some !
(Incidentally, i met the guy who wrote the music for that ad the other day.
He also did the War of the Worlds album (Jeff Wayne)).
I thought it was like the Big Turk candy bar (which is ostensibly supposed to be based on Turkish delight, but is really just some kind of sugar jelly with no floral notes at all).
I’m pretty sure I actually thought it had to do with turkey, the bird. I’m not sure if I ever thought it actually contained turkey, or more that it was turkey shaped (ala Swedish fish). When I found out it was Turkey the country and square, I remember assuming it was some sort of pastry. Then later I assumed it was kinda a marshmallow consistency.
IIRC, Big Turk had a fruity flavour. I liked them as a kid however they did not prepare me for the first time I tried actual Turkish delight made with rosewater.
Turkish Airlines serves a small cube of Turkish delight to all passengers on every flight. That’s the only time I’ve ever had it. That version, at least, tastes soft, sweet, and nutty.
I love Turkish delight. Always get some for my birthday. Mind you, a small box of it lasts a long time. I quite like the versions you can get from Greece and Turkey, too - although they tend to have nuts as a covering. In Greece it is called loukoumi.
I assumed it was akin to nougat. Then I went and looked it up (back in the pre internet days when this meant “going to the library”) and was perplexed.
Exactly this. Something super-rich, sweet, creamy and luxuriously indulgent.
I’m okay with the reality of Turkish Delight. I’ve even bought fruity versions by choice a few times. But man is it a gigantic step down from my imagination.
In my area we have something called Aplets and Cotlets, which was something that was always a special treat I’d see around the holidays. They’re locally made (I’ve even toured their manufacturing area). I always thought it was like that.