Turkish delight in Istanbul is sold everywhere, from airport kiosks to century-old confectioners, and quality varies a lot. Good lokum is soft and springy, made with starch and sugar, and often packed with pistachios or hazelnuts. Buy it loose by weight at a specialist shop or the Spice Bazaar, taste before you pay, and ask for a vacuum pack if you are flying home.
Last checked: 10 November 2026. Ingredient and name facts come from the Wikipedia article on Turkish delight. Company history comes from the makers’ own websites. We do not take commission from any shop, and we did not compare prices shop by shop.
What Turkish delight is
Turkish delight, or lokum in Turkish, is a family of sweets based on a gel of starch and sugar. Plain pieces are often flavoured with rosewater, mastic, bergamot or lemon. Cinnamon and mint are also common. Premium kinds are mostly chopped dates, pistachios, hazelnuts or walnuts held together by the gel. Shops dust the cubes with icing sugar or coconut so they do not stick.
The name has a long history. One explanation traces lokum to the Arabic phrase rahat al-hulqum, “comfort of the throat”. You will still see “rahat lokum” on some packs.
Turkish delight in Istanbul: words on the label
| Turkish word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lokum | Turkish delight |
| Fıstıklı | With pistachio |
| Fındıklı | With hazelnut |
| Cevizli | With walnut |
| Güllü | Rose flavoured |
| Sade | Plain |
| Kilo / kg | Price per kilogram |
| Vakumlu | Vacuum-packed |
How to tell good lokum from tired lokum
- Texture: it should be soft and spring back when pressed. Hard, dry or sweating pieces have sat out too long.
- Nuts: in nut varieties, the nuts should make up much of the piece, not a thin line.
- Label: on boxed lokum, read the ingredients and the best-before date. Starch and sugar come first in classic lokum.
- Taste first: most shops that sell by weight let you try a piece. If they will not, move on.
- Price display: check whether the price is per kilogram or per box, and ask for the weight on the receipt.
Where to buy Turkish delight in Istanbul
Historic confectioners. Hacı Bekir says it has made lokum, hard candy and halva since 1777. Its own history says the family served the Ottoman palace as head confectioner for three generations. Check its website for current shop addresses.
The Spice Bazaar. Our bazaar walking route ends at the Spice Bazaar in Eminönü, where many stalls sell lokum, dried fruit and tea. Compare a few counters, because prices and quality differ.
Supermarkets and the airport. These are convenient for sealed boxes. Airport prices are often higher, so buy in the city if you can.
Taking Turkish delight home
Ask for a vacuum-packed box or tray. It keeps longer and travels better in a suitcase. Lokum is a solid food, so it is not a liquid for hand luggage. Your home country decides what food you may bring in, so check its customs page before you fly. Our customs guide covers the Turkish side. If you buy other souvenirs, read our tax-free shopping guide to see what qualifies for a refund.
How to eat and serve it
Lokum often comes with a Turkish coffee, as a small sweet on the saucer. Our Turkish coffee guide explains how to order one. At home, keep the box closed and dry, and dust the pieces with icing sugar again if they stick.
Food allergies and diets
Many varieties contain nuts, and some use gelatine or other additives. Read the label or ask the shop. Our food allergies guide has Turkish phrases for nuts and other allergens.
Turkish delight in Istanbul: quick answers
What is Turkish delight called in Turkish?
Lokum. Some packs say “rahat lokum”.
Can I take Turkish delight on a plane?
It is a solid sweet, not a liquid. Your destination country’s food rules still apply, so check them.
What is the best Turkish delight flavour?
It is a matter of taste. Pistachio and plain rose are the classic choices for a first box.
