Who Wants to Fly to Turkey for Ice Cream?
People visit Turkey for many reasons: The thriving culture, sparkling sapphire seaside, world famous healing spas and amazing historical sites like Istanbul and the otherworldly cave hotels and fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. It’s a unique, vibrant country where a rich Middle Eastern culture meets the Western world.
But enough of that. We want to go there for the ice cream.
Not any old ice cream, mind you. But the fascinating, stretchy, chewy concoction twirled around by ice cream vendors in the streets of Istanbul. You see, ice cream in Turkey is nothing like ice cream or gelato in the rest of the world. It’s so cool that it had us scouring airfare websites for deals Turkey to see if we can make it happen.
Ice cream in Turkey is folded and kneaded like bread dough, then twirled and stretched beyond what you’d believe possible.
What is this magic stuff? Called dondurma, Turkey’s ice cream is made stretchy with salep (a powder made with orchis tubers) and mastic (a resin from the mastic tree). Despite its stretchy texture, dondurma is just as cold as the ice cream we’re used to in the Western world.
Check out this video of a mischievous ice cream vendor in Istanbul giving his customers their money’s worth in entertainment.
We showed this video to our little ones, and they’ve been asking to watch it constantly. It’s more entertaining to them than the Disney Channel or making rock castles.
Seriously, how did I go most of my life without knowing about this? Our family loves ice cream. If you follow our blog, you might have picked up on the fact that we talk about ice cream a lot. A. Lot. Like our love affair with Trits ice cream sandwiches, ice cream and road trips, and our insistence on putting ice cream in every best restaurants or best things to do post we write.
Oh, and once we get our fill of ice cream, we hear the rest of Turkey’s not too shabby, either. 😉
Hopefully we’ll get our fill of it this spring as we enjoy a very open ended, extended trip to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.
I’ll go anywhere for icecream – but this looks like the ultimate fun – and Turkey yep count me in!
Hi Jo,
You’re a woman after our own hearts. We’ve planned entire trips around ice cream 🙂
“Ice Cream holidays” – Your kids must love you Micki!
I hadn’t heard of the Turkish ice cream until recently, but I’m dying to try it. Sounds like a good enough reason to fly halfway around the world to me:)
It sounds like an amazing concoction doesn’t it? We’re planning to do a thorough investigation, probably involving trying at least 10 different flavors, to test it out :).
Ha! I’d tag along if I can. Dondurma is definitely worth flying to Turkey for 😉 And while in Istanbul, have your fill of baklava with clotted cream, as well! *drool*
Cheers!
Mimi
Mimi, I think we’re going to be in food heaven in Turkey. I’d never heard of baklava with clotted cream, but we’re definitely willing to test it out.
That is one entertaining Ice Cream vendor.
Isn’t he great? I love how the family is having so much fun with him – it’s just contagious.
Turkish ice cream huh? I’ve heard tons about Turkish delights, but never heard someone rave about the ice cream there. Good to know! 😉 seems unique & delicious
– Maria Alexandra
Ohhh…. Turkish delights – I’d forgotten about those. We’ll definitely have to add them to the list!
I’m sold. But, how are all those ice cream cones not tipping over?
Annette,
Ah, the endless mysteries of the Middle East… We’ll have to investigate. 🙂
I love ice cream. I would love to go to Turkey for ice cream. It looks so good! The photos of Turkey were gorgeous as well. I wouldn’t mind doing some more traveling as well!
Nic, I think really any excuse to get on the road is a good one. And ice cream may be the best one of all.
Woah, woah, WOAH! That ice cream looks… AMAZING.
Kate, I know, right? I was craving ice cream so badly by the time I finished this post that I ran to the freezer and scarfed down the last of this summer’s Creamsicles. But that’ll be our little secret 😉
These photos really tell a story! Great post.
Mary – thank you so much. That’s a great compliment, coming from you guys, especially :).
Wow, Micki, that is so amazing! This is the first time I’ve heard of Turkey ice cream and it looks different and definitely interesting! Turkey has been on my bucket list but this is so making it to top 2 after Barcelona which I’ve always wanted to visit. I had fun watching the video!
Theresa, I loved the video, too. The fun they’re having is just infectious, isn’t it?
Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! We’re heading to Turkey next month and I’m going to have to search this guy out now! Ha, I love the look on the girl’s face, you can see she’s enjoying the banter, but at the same time thinking ‘just give me the icecream dude’. Brilliant.