Macun şekeri is a traditional Turkish confectionery resembling a lollipop. It is a very thick, stretchy, and colorful caramel paste that is wound onto a wooden stick. It is not a classic hard candy nor a soft jelly; it is rather a soft, sticky substance that slowly dissolves in the mouth and releases intense herbal and fruity notes.
Macun şekeri vendors have a large round tray in front of them divided into several triangular sections, each filled with paste of a different flavor and color, from deep red through bright yellow to green or white. The lollipop is created when the vendor scoops up a little of each color (or according to the customer’s wish) with a quick movement and wraps them spirally around a wooden stick.
The origin of this sweet dates back deep into the history of the Ottoman Empire and is associated more with pharmacy than with confectionery. Legend has it that macun was created in the first half of the 16th century in the city of Manisa. When Hafsa Sultan, the mother of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, fell ill and no common treatment was working, the head physician Merkez Efendi prepared a special paste for her by mixing 41 different types of herbs and spices. The Sultana recovered and, in celebration, ordered that this paste be distributed to the people. Over time, the purely medicinal preparation became a popular street sweet, which lost some of its medical seriousness but retained its reputation as a restorative remedy.
Bon appétit!
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