Turkish snacks come in a wide variety, and when choosing between them the question is usually the same: what goes well with tea, what is practical at the office or on the go, and what do you offer guests? The Snacks & Sweets collection from WeNatur answers these questions with familiar flavours of Turkish cuisine. From lokum and cezerye to pestil, from nuts to dried fruit, from fruit bars to spreads, a broad selection is shipped from our warehouse in Germany to your address in Europe.
In this guide you will find the basics about the different kinds of snacks, learn which product groups are part of the WeNatur range, what to look for when reading the label and how to use the products at home.
What are the different kinds of snacks?
A snack is the general term for foods eaten in small portions outside the main meals. In Turkish cuisine the concept is very broad: a handful of roasted hazelnuts, a few dried apricots, a piece of lokum with tea or a thin slice of pestil with coffee are all part of the same tradition. Snacks can roughly be divided into three main groups: sweet treats (lokum, cezerye, pestil, walnut sucuk, chocolate), nuts and dried fruit (hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, dates, apricots, raisins) and practical packaged products (fruit bars, protein bars, spreads and creams).
Each group differs in texture, taste and storage. That is why, when choosing, it helps to think both about your own taste and about where and when you are going to eat the product.
Kinds of snacks in the WeNatur range
Lokum, cezerye and pestil
If you are looking for traditional sweets, the collection includes many kinds of lokum. The Kadayif Pistachio Lokum is made with 12 % pistachios and roasted kadayif strands; the soft lokum texture meets the crispy kadayif on the outside. Fans of tangy flavours can try the Barberry and Pomegranate Pistachio Lokum: this lokum in roll form has a barberry coating, pomegranate flavour and 14 % pistachios. For anyone who wants chocolate and lokum together, the Chocolate-Coated Pistachio Lokum stands out with its coating of 35 % dark chocolate.
Besides lokum, cezerye made from carrots and pestil made from fruit syrup also belong to this family. The Hazelnut and Coconut Leaf Cezerye is made from carrots slowly caramelised over the fire, 15 % roasted hazelnuts and grated coconut. The Muska Pestil with Hazelnut Paste is produced by folding thin pestil sheets into triangles and filling them with hazelnut paste. You will find all products of this group in the Sweets collection.
Nuts and dried fruit
Nuts are among the most popular groups of snacks. Roasted Hazelnuts 500 g, Antep Pistachios 700 g, Raw Almonds 800 g and the Premium Mixed Nuts, which combine pistachios, hazelnuts, almonds and cashews, are the key products of this group. The raw almonds are unroasted and without added salt, while the roasted almonds come with a fine salt coating. On the dried fruit side you will find Medjool Dates 1 kg, Malatya Yellow Dried Apricots, dried mango and seedless black raisins. For more choice, visit the Nuts collection.
Fruit bars and spreads
If you want snacks that are easy to carry in your bag, fruit bars are a practical option. The Cocoa and Hazelnut Fruit Bar, for example, is sweetened with date puree and contains 15 % hazelnuts, 4 % raw cocoa powder and dark chocolate. If you would like to try different flavours, the Zühre Ana Fruit Bar Trial Pack offers three varieties in one box. For breakfast and between meals, this group also includes the single-roasted tahini made from 100 % sesame, the peanut butter without added sugar and the cocoa hazelnut cream with 40 % hazelnuts from Zühre Ana. All bars and spreads are listed in the fruit bars collection. Chocolate lovers will find the Dubai-style bar with pistachios and kadayif on the Chocolates page.
Choosing kinds of snacks: what to look for on the label
- Ingredients list: It shows which ingredients the product is made of and in what proportions. In lokum, for example, the pistachio content can be 12 %, 14 % or 20 %.
- Allergen information: Allergens such as hazelnuts, almonds, pistachios, peanuts, milk and wheat flour are stated on the label. The walnut sucuk contains honey, milk, mulberry, sugar, wheat flour and walnuts; roasted chickpeas may contain traces of hazelnuts.
- Net quantity and pack size: Packs of 250–350 g are suitable if you want to finish them quickly, while 800 g, 1 kg or 5 kg packs suit large gatherings and longer use.
- Processing: Terms such as raw, roasted, salted or unsalted directly affect taste and use.
- Storage conditions and best-before date: They help you plan how long you will take to use up the product.
The ingredients list, allergen information and serving suggestion for each product can be found on the product page and on the packaging label. If you are unsure about anything, you can reach us via our contact page.
Ideas for home and kitchen
Snacks are not only for eating straight from the pack; many of them are also useful in the kitchen:
- Tea and coffee table: Serve lokum, leaf cezerye and slices of pestil on a small plate alongside Turkish coffee or strong brewed tea.
- Breakfast: Spread tahini on bread, add Zühre Ana milk jam to pancakes and stir seedless black raisins into yoghurt.
- Desserts and baking: Roasted hazelnuts work in baking recipes, dried apricots in desserts and compote, and Medjool dates in sweet recipes.
- Salad and muesli: Roasted chickpeas and raw almonds add crunch to salads; raw almonds also go well with yoghurt and muesli mixes.
- On the go and at the office: Individually wrapped fruit bars are easy to carry in a bag.
- Guests and gifts: A platter of different kinds of lokum and nuts makes an elegant presentation on special days.
Storage tips
Because the products are made differently, storage conditions also vary from product to product. The general rule is to keep the products away from sunlight in a cool, dry place with the packaging closed. Transferring nuts to an airtight jar after opening helps keep them crunchy. Lokum and cezerye can be affected by moisture, so the pack should be closed tightly. Oil may separate on the surface of tahini and peanut butter; according to the label this is a natural process and not a sign of spoilage – simply stir before use.
Frequently asked questions about kinds of snacks
Which products go best with tea?
Lokum, leaf cezerye, pestil and walnut sucuk are traditionally served with tea and Turkish coffee. The Walnut Sucuk (Butterfly Cut) is made by coating large walnut halves with thick grape syrup.
Where can I find allergen information?
Allergen information is given on every product page and on the packaging label. If you are allergic to tree nuts, always check the label before buying.
Where are orders shipped from, and how?
Orders are shipped from our warehouse in Germany with DHL or DPD. Shipping within Germany is free for orders of 100 € or more. You can find the details in our shipping policy.
Should I choose a large or a small pack?
If you use a product often, large packs such as the Medjool Dates 5 kg can be practical; to try a new flavour, it makes more sense to start with smaller packs.
Conclusion
From lokum to nuts, from pestil to fruit bars, the snacks at WeNatur bring the familiar flavours of Turkish cuisine to tables across Europe. By reading the label, you can easily choose the product that suits your taste and your purpose. To see the full selection, visit the Snacks & Sweets collection.
Source: Wikipedia – Snack
