As a resident of Krakow, I have a special fondness for Turkish honey. Every year, on November 1, after visiting the graves of loved ones with our grandparents, we returned through crowded shopping aisles filled with the smell of bagels and sweets. Turkish honey was a mandatory part of All Saints’ Day – wrapped in cellophane, fragile, sticky to fingers, and at the same time sweet to the limit. Today, although I can make it myself at home, I still remember the moment when my grandfather broke hard honey and gave me a piece. This was our Krakow tradition.
Turkish honey is a traditional caramel treat that has been sold at Krakow cemeteries for decades. It is a hard, quite crumbly mass made of caramelized sugar and honey, often with the addition of nuts or almonds. Although its name may suggest exotic origins, honey has little to do with Turkey, maybe just that the intensely sweet taste is associated with Middle Eastern sweets. However, it is entirely a product of the Polish confectionery tradition.
Its history dates back to the 1920swhen the first sweet stalls appeared in Krakow during All Saints’ Day. Over the years, the number of sellers increased – they offered a hard, shiny, honey block that could be broken into pieces. Over time, it became an inseparable element of November 1, alongside candles, chrysanthemums and family walks to the cemetery.
Turkish honey was one of the first sweets traded on the street. In the past, the seller displayed it in large blocks, which he broke into smaller pieces and then weighed. Today it is available already in portions (wrapped in a cellophane cone)and in many flavors. You can buy cocoa, coffee, cream, vanilla, coconut, almond and even sesame. The tradition of honey has not stopped – you can still buy it at cemetery stands.
A delicacy for All Saints’ Day he is very sweet and tastes like a combination of honey, caramel and toffee. You can break it in your hands, but it is a bit chewy when bitten. In the past it was creamy-yellow or brownish in color, today – due to different flavors – it may be white, dark brown or have various decorations (e.g. white stripes on a brown background). In Krakow, it is eaten after visiting the graves of loved ones or taken home for a sweet dessert after dinner.
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Interestingly, You can make Turkish honey yourself. All you need are basic ingredients that most people already have at home or can buy at the nearest local store. The basis for making a delicacy for All Saints’ Day is sugar, honey, protein and nuts. This simple and old recipe allows you to recall childhood memories and pass on a piece of tradition to the youngest generations. Making such a delicacy is a nice gesture that your family will surely appreciate.
Turkish honey – recipe
Ingredients:
- 6 tablespoons of honey,
- 2.5 cups of white sugar,
- egg white L or XL,
- 1.5 cups of ground walnuts.
How to do it:
Step 1
Pour honey into the pan, add sugar, mix gently and heat until the ingredients dissolve completely.
Step 2
In the meantime, put the egg white in a bowl and beat it with a mixer until stiff.
Step 3
Remove the honey-caramel mixture from the heat and add the stiffly beaten egg white. Mix and put on the burner for another minute (with low heat). Stir the mixture. Set aside from the stove.
Step 4
Crush the walnuts and mix them into the mixture with a spatula.
Step 5
Pour the well-combined mixture into an oven-proof glass dish lined with food foil or a cake tin lined with baking paper (or food foil). Level and refrigerate overnight.
Step 6
Divide the solidified Turkish honey into smaller portions and wrap in cellophane.
On All Saints’ Day, it is worth reaching for traditional flavors – such as Turkish honey, which has been present at Krakow stalls for generations. It’s a simple, nostalgic dessert that you can prepare yourself. Apart from it, other sweets – simple or quick – will also work great. They will make family gatherings after visiting cemeteries more enjoyable.
Source: Terazgotuje.pl, krakowfood.pl
