In most places of Turkey but especially Istanbul, Turkish street food is a culinary preference for many Turks and foreigners. Vendors deliver low prices, delicious tastes, and ready to eat food to hundreds of working locals or travellers looking for a quick bite to eat, without all the pomp and grandeur. All around the world, simplicity is what makes street food popular, and the Turks happen to be masters at it.
In 2017, Turkey exported 21,000 tons of organic food. Reaching 68 countries, earning 87 million USD in revenue, which was an increase on 2016 of 17%. The organic food market of Turkey is looking towards exporting even more goods in 2018, with countries like Germany, the USA and France driving the demand. Organic food companies are also eager to increase exports to the EU, one of Turkey’s already existing fruitful business partnerships.
Whatever time of year you choose to visit Turkey, you’re sure to be enthralled by this incredible country. Of course, some seasons are better suited to certain activities, whether that’s sunny days on the beach, racing down the snowy ski slopes, or soaking up the wealth of culture on offer throughout the country.However, many visitors neglect spring, choosing to holiday in Turkey during the summer months instead. What many fail to realise is how much there is to see and do in Turkey during spring, with the added benefits of lovely weather and fewer tourists. Find out more about why we think everyone should take a trip to Turkey during the spring.
Eating out with children while holidaying can be fraught with problems. Unfamiliar textures and flavours lurk at every turn, and children, who often have fixed ideas of what they like, will revolt at the drop of a hat when faced with a suspicious new food item. Avoid tantrums and tears with our handy guide to the best child-friendly food in Turkey.
Go to any significant shopping place like the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul, and the delectable range of spices and herbs are on display in large, wooden buckets for you to buy as much or as little as you want. Whatever your taste in flavourings and seasonings, whether mild, tart or chilli hot, the range of Turkish spices will perfectly compliment your pantry back home. But which ones should you buy? Here are our suggestions.
On September the 1st, fishermen across Turkey eagerly donned their gear and boarded large trawlers to sail the seas after a five-month fishing ban finished. Marking the beginning of the fishing season. So, is now the right time to be eating fish in Turkey? It certainly is, and this is our insider guide on how to ensure the best catch of the day ends up on your plate.
Out of all the things Turkey is famous for, one of the most under-rated is its ice cream. In contrast to other industries, we are not talking about some fake, copycat dessert for sizzling summer days but real Turkish ice cream with the unique ingredients of milk, sugar, salep and mastic. Turkish ice cream is called Dondurma which is a literal translation to mean “freezing.”.
By far, the most important room in a Turkish household is the kitchen. Turks place great emphasis on food. Not only does it fuel the body but it is also an important bond between friends, families, and strangers. Hospitality is one of the strongest pillars of Turkish society. Indeed many holidaymakers and travellers to Turkey often receive random invites to dinner from Turks they have only just met. But, it all starts and end in the kitchen, the ruling centre of any home.
Turks have mastered the simple art of combining the simplest of ingredients to produce the most satisfying dishes, and their choice of more than 300 soup recipes are perfect examples. Eaten as a snack, starter, or main course, we think Turkish soups are the best in the world and here are six reasons why you simply cannot go to Turkey without trying the famous soups.
The first advice that any discerning traveller will tell you is to observe, be aware, and respect the traditions of countries you visit. When it comes to Turkish Customs and Social Traditions, this good advice helps you to blend into the crowd. As the saying goes, the best experiences stem from acting like a local. Turks do not take food for granted. There is also nothing better than sitting down to enjoy a delicious meal with friends and family so you may find yourself invited to eat with them, even if you have just met. Whether dining with Turks or in a traditional restaurant, here are the foodie things to know about Turkey.
Many visitors to Turkey are surprised by the huge variation of mezes on offer at even the smallest of restaurants. Eaten before the meal or as a side dish, Turkish mezes are bursting mouthfuls of flavour. Freshly made with local ingredients, mezes are an integral part of dining in Turkey, and should always be enjoyed slowly, with good company and plenty of raki or cold beer.
Like many other culinary dishes of the country, most Turkish desserts have a story to tell. Steeped in cultural heritage, and drawing in a variety of influences from around the Arabic and European world, each dessert often has a meaning or local urban legend behind their recipe. They also frequently stem from the Ottoman kitchens or even further back to the nomadic Turk tribes of the eastern world.
