As the others have said, the one in your pictures is not real Turkish Delight. Having said that, Fry's westernised version of it was all I knew of as a child as well, going back 40 years (and I loved it).
I didn't taste real Turkish Delight until I was in my late teens, and really, you can't compare the two. Real TD is light red in colour (the most common, although there are green ones, yellowish ones, and probably others) and is sticky rather than gelatinous, and the flavour is sweet, light, and elusive because of the rose and/or lemon flavourings. It's also dusted with icing sugar to stop it sticking together and that adds to the flavour. I'm pretty sure only the westernised version ever allows chocolate near it too :) the real one sometimes has crushed almonds or pistachios added.
Having said all that though - because I used to wonder this myself - wouldn't Edmund have been thinking of the Fry's version rather than the real one, as I'm pretty sure English children back then would only have known the Fry's one?
On a final note - now hunt down some real TD for a taste comparison! Any Greek or Middle Eastern cake shop or cafe will have some.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2010-01-12 10:36 pm (UTC)I didn't taste real Turkish Delight until I was in my late teens, and really, you can't compare the two. Real TD is light red in colour (the most common, although there are green ones, yellowish ones, and probably others) and is sticky rather than gelatinous, and the flavour is sweet, light, and elusive because of the rose and/or lemon flavourings. It's also dusted with icing sugar to stop it sticking together and that adds to the flavour. I'm pretty sure only the westernised version ever allows chocolate near it too :) the real one sometimes has crushed almonds or pistachios added.
Having said all that though - because I used to wonder this myself - wouldn't Edmund have been thinking of the Fry's version rather than the real one, as I'm pretty sure English children back then would only have known the Fry's one?
On a final note - now hunt down some real TD for a taste comparison! Any Greek or Middle Eastern cake shop or cafe will have some.