Turkish Delight Cocktail
“Each piece of Turkish Delight was sweet and light to the very center and Edmund had never tasted anything more delicious.”
~The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Turkish legend has it that Sultan Abdul Hamid I “summoned all his confectionery experts and ordered them to produce a unique dessert.” What caught that royal’s fancy was a delightfully chewy treat covered in powdered sugar and fragrant of rose water. Over the years, a variety of Turkish Delight (known as “lokum” in Turkey itself) has been created with fruit flavors or nuts mixed in—or even a touch of tempting enchantment, according to C.S. Lewis in his beloved fantasy novel, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
During WWII, when the story takes place, sugar was heavily rationed in Britain, leaving sweets to the dreams of children and adults alike. Upon entering the wondrous world of Narnia and meeting a lovely, yet cold enchantress who offers young Edmund anything he wishes to eat, he immediately thinks of the sweets he has not been allowed to enjoy since the war started. His request is for the sweet Turkish Delight, little knowing of its enchantment and the effects that tempting moment would have on the adventure to unfold.
Inspired by the luscious, sweet treat in the tale, our Turkish Delight Cocktail brings you a fragrant blend of sparkling wine and fruity tea to satisfy any sweet tooth. Oh, but don’t worry—though ours has a few secret ingredients, it has not been enchanted by the White Witch.
Add a Turkish Delight Cocktail to your teatime this month as an extra special treat! (You can also order it non-alcoholic.)