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We will send regular newsletters to our members who have signed up for receiving it during the registration. In 'mymerhaba' newsletter, our editorial staff provides updates, with regard to any information related to places worth visiting, viewing, or otherwise worth knowing, for those who care to know more....

Helva

Helva is one of the oldest Turkish sweet and has a very thorough past. It is considered Balkan and East Mediterranean originated and arrived Anatolia before Turks. Today helva is still a very popular sweet in Turkey, and whatever their religion is, all Turks serve helva on special occasions such as Ramazan, Kandil and other holly days, but especially to mark births and deaths.

There are several versions of helva. The most common version cooked at home is İrmik Helvası (Semolina Helva), a loose granular pudding made with semolina into which is stirred sweet hot milk and seasoned with pine nuts while another kind is Un Helvası which is made by slowly browning flour in butter and adding a sugar syrup and pine nuts and then shaping it into balls.

Tahin Helvası (crushed sesame seeds) is another kind of helva produced in plants and sold in blocks by weight and comes plain, flavored with chocolate or stunned with pistachio or almonds. Diabetic kinds of tahin helvası are also available. The most famous helva manufacturer is Koska Helvacısı and almost all supermarkets sell Koska products.

In the manufacture process of tahin helvası first of all one sifts, washes, dries and grinds the raw sesame seeds and that is tahin. Another herb çöven (root of soapwort) is mashed and mixed with sugar. Çöven gives whiteness to helva. Tahin, çöven and sugar are cooked by stirring in large cauldrons. Then various flavors such as nuts, pistachio, almond, and cacao are added and pour into moulds in which they are cooled.

Sometimes you meet round pastry wafers sold in transparent polyester bags at pastries, dried fruit shops or street peddlers. These are called Kağıt Helva (literally "Paper Helva"). The layers of Kağıt Helva are full of sweetmeat and it is a favorite taste among children.

We suggest you try İrmik Helvası and Un Helvası at home. You won't regret!




Also See:
  • Traditional Beverages

  • Turkish Fast Food

  • Entrails

  • Akide Candy

  • Helva

  • Lokum

  • Spices and Aromatic Herbs

  • Kirkpinar Oil-Wrestling

  • Turkish Coffee

  • Traditions & Habits

  • Religious Colors

  • Islam in Turkey

  • Istanbul's Holy Places

  • Ankara's Holy Places

  • Famous Personalities

  • Legendary bazaars

  • Turkish Cuisine

  • Special Tastes

  • Hubble-bubble (Nargile)

  • Rakı and Meyhane

  • Hamam - Turkish Bath

  • Luck Games

  • A Little Turkish Fun

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    Special Tastes
    Traditional Beverages
    Turkish Fast Food
    Entrails
    Akide Candy
    Helva
    Lokum
    Spices and Aromatic Herbs

    Alla Turca
    Kirkpinar Oil-Wrestling
    Turkish Coffee
    Traditions & Habits
    Religious Colors
    Islam in Turkey
    Istanbul's Holy Places
    Ankara's Holy Places
    Famous Personalities
    Legendary bazaars
    Turkish Cuisine
    Special Tastes
    Hubble-bubble (Nargile)
    Rakı and Meyhane
    Hamam - Turkish Bath
    Luck Games
    A Little Turkish Fun




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