Recently I have published an article about ‘What You Should Eat In Istanbul’ and I have received really good feedback from you all. That’s why I have put some special effort into releasing Part 2 with the ‘Dessert Edition’ mark. If you’ve never seen the 1st Part, you shouldn’t miss that too. So here’s the local desserts that I want you to know.
1- Rose Petal Pomegranate Flavored Turkish Delight with Pistachio
2- Pistachio Coated Pomegranate Turkish Delight
3- Kiwi Flavored Pistachio Turkish Delight
4- Rose Flavored Rock Candy
5- Profiterole ‘Cream Puff’
6- Almond Paste
7- Halva with Pistachio
8- Dark Chocolate Covered Orange
You were searching ‘What To Eat In Istanbul’ and you’re almost there. Here are some of my favorite desserts in Istanbul. @atourguideinconstantinople
Confectioner (Sekerci Cafer Erol)
Taking the surname Erol, the family started to work in the Ottoman palace for many positions. At that time, the family’s work in the dessert production departments of the palace such as halvahane, sugar house and dessert house helped them to increase their experience in this field.
The family opened their first shop in Istanbul in 1807 and returned to their hometown after the great fire in Istanbul after the First World War. In 1935, their grandchildren returned to Istanbul to keep their family heritage alive.
Here’s selection of my favorites from the ‘Confectioner’
- Rose Petal Pomegranate Flavored Turkish Delight with Pistachio
- Pistachio Coated Pomegranate Turkish Delight
- Kiwi Flavored Pistachio Turkish Delight
- Rose Flavored Rock Candy
Incı (Pearl) Patisserie
Profiterole ‘Cream Puff’
Founded in 1944 by Luka Zigoridis, the patisserie is still in operation today. The patisserie, which is very well known by Istanbul locals, is open until 00.00 at midnight.
It is quite difficult to make a choice in the shop where there are many types of desserts. Everything is very high quality and delicious. That’s why I’ll just share the most well-known dessert of the patisserie.
Bonus: Right after you have the dessert, do not forget the Turkish Coffee.
Hacı (Hadji) Bekir
They came to Istanbul in 1777 and opened a small shop. This shop starts to produce confectionery such as Turkish delight, akide (rock candy) sugar, etc. The shop owner, who fulfilled his pilgrimage duty, started to gain fame as Hacı Bekir.
It became indispensable for generations of Istanbulites, young and old. I have been going to this shop since my childhood and I am still a subscriber today. Here are my favorite flavors:
-Almond Paste
-Halva With Pistachio
-Dark Chocolate Covered Orange
Bonus: Don’t you ever miss to invite me 🙂
Reminder: It’s just the tip of the iceberg. As I have mentioned (Part 1), I’m sharing the full list of these types of elite tastes with all of my guests who have already toured with me.
Do You Need Tour Guide?
As a tour guide, sharing fascinating anecdotes and insider tips, taking my guests on a journey beyond the surface-level attractions and most importantly while having fun, I keep them accompanied along the way. With my guidance, you can discover hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path destinations that you may have otherwise missed.
I have always cared for the needs of my guests. Therefore it’s my duty to defend your interests. Being actively on the field for many years brought me above the certain level of knowledge. I have already faced and dealt with the issues you can possibly come across with. I also did absorb the history of the sites to create and prove my difference. The travellers who trusted me, received my full support and hospitality. In addition to setting their goals in the city where I was born, I did also shed light to show the ways of managing their time in the most efficient ways. Use my experience in order to feel confident as if it’s your own city!
All you have to do is texting these words;
“I need a tour guide”
Oğulcan ÖZDİL, Founder & Professional Tour Guide