Have you ever stood in a store or browsed online and thought, "I know there's some kind of lokum, but what exactly is it?" You're not alone. Many Lithuanians have heard the word, perhaps even tasted the soft, sugar-dusted candy, but have no idea what a vast world lies beyond that single product label.
Turkish sweets are much more than just lokum. Here you'll find sesame-scented halvah, soft and crunchy nougat, colorful Bebeto gummies, and hundreds of other delicacies with recipes dating back centuries. By the way, the word "lokum" itself comes from an Ottoman Turkish phrase meaning "throat soother," and this candy has been documented since the 15th century.
This article won't provide recipes. Instead, you'll get a practical buyer's guide: what's what, how different categories differ, and where to start if Turkish sweets are new to you. After reading this article, you'll confidently choose an online purchase, knowing exactly what to expect.
What Lokum Really Is (and Why Its Name Is So Strange)
The name comes from the Ottoman Turkish phrase rahat ul-hulküm, which literally means "comfort for the throat." The earliest written sources date back to the 15th century, and the recipe spread from Constantinople throughout Europe.
The ingredients are simple: sugar, starch, water. From this triad comes a texture that is difficult to compare to anything else: soft, slightly chewy, slowly melting in the mouth. The outside is dusted with powdered sugar to prevent the pieces from sticking together.
The flavors vary greatly. The pistachio version is nutty and rich. Rose water provides a floral aroma that has no analogue in Lithuanian confectionery. Coconut, lemon, pomegranate, chocolate: each of them is almost a separate product, although the base is the same.
Packaging can be varied: from individual pieces to kilogram boxes with several flavors at once. In an ordinary supermarket in Lithuania, you will usually find one, at best two, variants. The full range of flavors is practically unavailable.
Once opened, store in a cool, dry place. It should be eaten within a few weeks, otherwise it dries out and loses its characteristic texture.
Halvah: When Sesame Becomes a Dessert
Lokum is soft and moist. Halvah is completely the opposite.
Halvah (also spelled halva) is made from tahini, which is ground sesame paste, mixed with sugar and sometimes honey. The result: a crispy, slightly crumbly texture that melts in the mouth faster and drier than lokum. Not chewy, not gummy. Just crumbly.
Classic halvah has a rich, slightly nutty sesame flavor. Popular variations complement this base: with pistachios, chocolate, cocoa, or vanilla. Each version differs, but that crisp texture remains.
In the Middle East and the Mediterranean region, halvah is not a festive treat, but an everyday table companion. In Turkey, it is bought in blocks and cut at home. There are also ready-made packages with specified weight and ingredients, so you know exactly what you are getting.
In Lithuanian stores, halvah is rare. Most often, the first time you can taste it is only by ordering online.
Nougat Candies: Soft, Crispy, or Both at Once
Halvah and nougat seem like close relatives, but they are completely different worlds.
Nougat is made by whipping sugar with egg whites until the mixture becomes fluffy and white. Nuts or dried fruits are added to it, then everything hardens.
Turkish nougat is usually softer than European. It's flexible, a little chewier, but not sticky. It doesn't tear your teeth, but it doesn't disappear in your mouth in a second either.
The texture depends on the recipe:
Soft version resembles dense marshmallow
Denser version requires several serious chews
The most popular additions are pistachios, walnuts, almonds, and orange peel. Nuts provide a crunchy contrast to the soft mass, so each bite is different.
The intensity of the flavor is medium. Nougat is not as sweet as lokum, so it is suitable for those who find intensely sweet textures too much.
The packaging is often attractive: individual pieces or small gift boxes. If you need an original gift but have no ideas, nougat candies are a good choice. Unusual, but understandable.
Bebeto and Other Turkish Gummies: A Serious Business 🍬
Gummies would seem like a simple thing, but Bebeto from Istanbul proves that there is something to be said here too. This Turkish brand produces gummies, marmalade, and jelly candies that you can find on store shelves all over Europe.
The variety of shapes and flavors is truly wide: fruit slices, cola-flavored bottles, hearts, bears, sour gummies. The texture is softer and less "gummy" than some Western counterparts, and many people like it right away. For example: Bebeto peach rings perfectly demonstrate that soft, melting consistency.
Turkish gummies are made according to their own traditional recipes, so the taste and texture really differ from what we are used to.
In the happytreat.shop catalog, alongside Bebeto, you will also find Damla and Beriboo products, so there is plenty to choose from.
Gummies are perfect for buying in larger quantities: for parties, gift baskets, or simply for stocking the pantry.
Where to Start if Everything is New
So many options, and you don't know where to start? Normal.
The simplest way: choose one product from each category, rather than a kilogram box right away. One lokum, one piece of halvah, a few gummies. This way you'll understand what you like in general, without spending a lot.
Before choosing, think about your tastes:
Do you like a familiar, sweet taste? Start with chocolate or coconut.
Do you want something truly different? Go for rose water or sesame.
The next section will help more precisely. If you can't decide, look at this crisp, sour option as a reference point.
If You Like Familiar Flavors
Chocolate is your friend here. Lokum with chocolate or coconut filling tastes similar to what you already know, so the "exotic" loses its sharpness from the first bite.
Halvah with cocoa or a chocolate layer works similarly. The sesame base remains, but the chocolate rounds it out and makes the whole experience much more understandable.
Bebeto berry-flavored gummies are an even easier start: fruit flavors, soft texture, nothing unexpected. Just better than what you'd find in an ordinary store.
One tip: for your first time, skip rose water lokum and pure sesame halvah. Their flavors are truly unique and more suitable once you have a point of comparison.
If You Want Something Truly Different
But if familiar flavors are too boring for you, this is where the real adventure begins.
Rose water lokum with pistachios. Subtly floral, soft, with a green nut in every piece. Such a combination simply doesn't exist in Lithuanian confectionery.
Pure sesame halvah. Intense, nutty, slightly bitter. The texture crumbles and melts in your mouth unlike anything else. The first bite is surprising.
Nougat with pistachios and orange peel. Soft mass, crunchy nuts, citrus notes. The taste is complex; you want to chew slowly and wonder what's inside.
Sour Bebeto gummies. Completely modern, boldly sour. Look, for example, at Bebeto peach rings as an entry point.
Where to Find Turkish Sweets in Lithuania
All the variety we described above practically doesn't exist in Lithuanian supermarkets. Most often, you'll find one lokum variant, sometimes not even that.
Happytreat.shop delivery and ordering information will help you understand how everything works, but in short: 250+ products from Turkey and other countries, including lokum, halvah, nougat, Bebeto, and Damla gummies. Delivery throughout Lithuania in 1–3 business days, free for orders over 35 €.
Prices start from 0.99 €, so it's easy to try several different products from different categories in one order.
When buying a gift: the store offers ready-made gift boxes with sets of Turkish delicacies. An unusual alternative to a conventional box of chocolates.
The website is available in Lithuanian, Latvian, and English, so ordering will not cause any language difficulties.
Brief Buyer's Summary
The short answer: Turkish sweets are much more than lokum. Halvah, nougat, and gummies are completely separate categories with different textures, flavors, and traditions.
Start with what's closer to your taste. Chocolate lokum or Bebeto gummies are an easy first step. Pure sesame halvah or rose water lokum is suitable when you want something truly different.
As a gift, these Turkish treats work wonderfully. They are not found in ordinary stores, and they certainly look and taste good. A different alternative to a conventional box of chocolates, but no worse.
Trying them is easy and inexpensive: prices start from 0.99 €, so you can get several different products in one order and quickly understand what you like.
Conclusion
Turkish sweets are a whole world that is easy to discover gradually. Lokum, halvah, nougat, and gummies, each category has its own character, texture, and history.
The most important things to remember: Turkish sweets are not just lokum; halvah and nougat are completely separate desserts with distinct flavors; gummies like Bebeto are an ideal easy entry into this sweet culture; as a gift, these products stand out from the crowd.
The best part is that you can start from 0.99 €, without much risk and without a long wait. Visit happytreat.shop, choose a few different products, and let your taste decide. Sometimes the best discovery starts with one small box.
