Haci Bekir - The Original Turkish Delight
Hacı Bekir has made Turkish delight in Istanbul since 1777, and its founder is widely credited with creating lokum as we know it. More
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Haci Bekir Double Roasted Pistachio Turkish Delight 320g £4.99 -
Haci Bekir Golden Mix Turkish Delight (Mango, Rose & Double Roasted Pistachio) 320g £3.99 -
Haci Bekir Mix Fruit & Mix Nut Turkish Delight (Kiwi, Pomegranate, Double Roasted Pistachio & Hazelnut) 320g £3.49 -
Haci Bekir Mix Fruits Turkish Delight (Kiwi, Lemon, Orange & Strawberry) 320g £3.29 -
Haci Bekir Original Double Roasted Hazelnut Turkish Delight 320g £4.49 -
Haci Bekir Original Watermelon Flavour Turkish Delight 320g £2.99 -
Haci Bekir Pomegranate & Strawberry Turkish Delight 320g £2.99 -
Haci Bekir Rose & Lemon Turkish Delight 320g Notify me See similar in stock£2.99 -
Haci Bekir Rose Turkish Delight 320g Notify me See similar in stock£2.99 -
Haci Bekir Tropical Mix Turkish Delight (Mango, Kiwi & Banana) 320g £2.99
Since 1777 · Istanbul
Hacı Bekir: the home of Turkish delight
In 1777 Bekir Efendi, a confectioner from Araç in Kastamonu, opened a small sweet shop in Bahçekapı, in the old city of Istanbul, selling lokum and hard candies he made himself.
Lokum was traditionally sweetened with honey or grape molasses and thickened with flour. Bekir Efendi made his with refined sugar and starch, which gave it the soft, smooth texture we know as Turkish delight today. His sweets became so popular that in 1820 Sultan Mahmud II made him chief confectioner to the Ottoman palace. Around the same time he returned from his pilgrimage to Mecca with the title Hacı, and the shop has carried the name Hacı Bekir ever since.
Nearly 250 years later the business is still run by his descendants, now the fifth generation, and there is still a Hacı Bekir shop in Bahçekapı. We stock their classic flavours, from rose and double roasted pistachio to mixed fruit boxes, at the same prices online as in our shop in Harold Hill.
Hacı Bekir Turkish delight: your questions
Who invented Turkish delight?
Nobody knows for certain. Soft sweets made with starch and sugar were eaten in Persia and the Arab world centuries earlier. Hacı Bekir, who opened his Istanbul shop in 1777, is the confectioner most often credited with Turkish delight as we know it: he made lokum with refined sugar and starch instead of honey, molasses and flour, and his shop made it famous.
Are Haci Bekir and Hacı Bekir the same?
Yes. Hacı (with a dotless ı) is the Turkish spelling and Haci is how it is usually written in English. Hacı is a title for someone who has made the pilgrimage to Mecca; Bekir Efendi made his between 1817 and 1820.
What is the difference between lokum and Turkish delight?
There is none. Lokum is the Turkish name. In English it was first called “lumps of delight”, and the name Turkish delight caught on in the 19th century.
Is Turkish delight a good Christmas gift?
Yes. It keeps well, travels well and suits all ages. The mixed boxes, such as Golden Mix or Mix Fruit & Mix Nut, give a selection of flavours in one box. Add a few boxes to one order and send them UK-wide, or collect them from our shop in Harold Hill.
Does Hacı Bekir Turkish delight contain nuts?
The pistachio and hazelnut varieties contain nuts. For the fruit and rose flavours, check the ingredients and allergen information on each product page and on the pack before buying for someone with an allergy.
How should I store Turkish delight?
Keep it in a cool, dry place in its box or an airtight container. Don’t put it in the fridge: moisture makes it sticky. If pieces stick together, dust them with a little icing sugar or cornflour.
Do you deliver Hacı Bekir Turkish delight across the UK?
Yes. We send orders across the UK by Royal Mail or DHL. Delivery is free on orders of £70 or more to the UK mainland, or you can collect your order from our shop in Harold Hill, Romford.
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