When it comes to ice cream, most people are accustomed to the usual scoops of creamy frozen treats. But dondurma, the traditional Turkish ice cream, offers a whole new experience, combining unique textures, delightful flavors, and a fun serving style. Unlike the typical ice cream found around the world, dondurma is known for its chewy, elastic texture, and its distinctively stretchy, creamy consistency that makes it stand out as a culinary experience. So, what is dondurma, how is it made, and why has it become a global sensation? Let’s take a deep dive into the fascinating world of Turkish ice cream.

What is Dondurma?

Dondurma is the Turkish word for ice cream, but it’s much more than just a frozen dessert. What sets dondurma apart from regular ice cream is its unique texture and preparation. While conventional ice cream is churned and frozen, dondurma is made using a combination of ingredients that give it an unusual, chewy texture that is hard to describe unless you experience it firsthand.

The key to dondurma’s chewy consistency lies in its main ingredients: salep and mastika. Salep is a flour made from the tuber of the wild orchid species Orchis (commonly found in the mountainous regions of Turkey), and mastika is a natural resin that gives the ice cream its distinctive elasticity. These ingredients are what give dondurma its unique, stretchy, and creamy texture.

Dondurma is typically served on a cone or in a bowl, and it is traditionally sold by street vendors in Turkey. What makes dondurma particularly fun is the way it is served—it’s often twirled, spun, and stretched by the vendor in an entertaining display before being handed to the customer. The experience of receiving dondurma from a street vendor is part of the fun, as they playfully tease and perform tricks with the ice cream before finally handing it over.

The History of Dondurma

The history of dondurma is deeply intertwined with Turkey’s cultural heritage. Its origins date back to the late 19th century in the city of Maras, located in southern Turkey. The region of Maras has long been known for its ice cream-making traditions, and dondurma is said to have originated here, where the local climate and unique agricultural products provided the perfect conditions for developing this delicious frozen treat.

Traditionally, salep—the key ingredient in dondurma—was sourced from wild orchids that grow in the mountains around Maras. In the past, dondurma was a treat enjoyed only in the region, but with time, its popularity spread across Turkey and beyond, becoming a staple in Turkish cuisine. Today, dondurma is enjoyed not just in Turkey, but around the world, especially in countries with significant Turkish or Middle Eastern populations.

While salep has been used for centuries in Turkish cuisine (often in hot drinks and desserts), its use in dondurma has become one of its most famous applications. However, in recent years, due to the protection of endangered wild orchids, the production and use of salep have been limited, which has made authentic dondurma even more rare and prized.

How is Dondurma Made?

Dondurma’s unique texture is the result of a carefully honed process that involves churning and freezing in a way that’s different from traditional ice cream. Here’s how it’s generally made:

1. Ingredients: The core ingredients of dondurma are milk, sugar, salep (the flour from wild orchid tubers), and mastika (a resin from the mastic tree). The addition of salep and mastika gives dondurma its smooth, elastic texture.
2. Cooking: First, the milk and sugar are combined and heated. Once the mixture is warm, salep and mastika are added. These ingredients help thicken and give the ice cream its distinctive consistency. The mixture is stirred for several hours, allowing the salep to dissolve and create a smooth, chewy base.
3. Freezing: Unlike traditional ice cream, which is churned in a machine to incorporate air and prevent ice crystals, dondurma is mixed by hand or with large, wooden tools. The mixture is then placed in containers and frozen slowly.
4. Serving: Once the dondurma has set, it is ready to be served. The characteristic serving style involves using a long-handled scoop (or even a shovel-like instrument) to pull and stretch the ice cream before placing it onto a cone or in a bowl. The elasticity of dondurma allows the vendor to twist and stretch it, creating an interactive and entertaining experience for customers.

The Distinctive Texture of Dondurma

One of the most unique aspects of dondurma is its chewy texture, which comes from the combination of salep and mastika. This gives the ice cream a stretchy, almost elastic quality that’s unlike anything you might find in a typical ice cream cone. When you take a bite of dondurma, it doesn’t break apart easily like regular ice cream. Instead, it stretches and pulls, offering a delightful resistance as you chew. The texture is smooth but also firm, and it doesn’t melt as quickly as regular ice cream, which allows you to savor it longer.

Dondurma is also much denser than traditional ice cream, with a rich, creamy taste that lingers on the palate. The mastika imparts a subtle, aromatic flavor, while the salep adds a mild, earthy taste that makes the ice cream both unique and memorable.

Popular Flavors of Dondurma

While the classic flavor of dondurma is often vanilla, Turkish street vendors and ice cream shops offer a wide range of flavors that cater to different tastes. Some of the most popular flavors include:

• Vanilla: The traditional and most common flavor, rich and creamy with a subtle taste of mastic.
• Chocolate: A favorite for chocolate lovers, with a dense, indulgent flavor.
• Pistachio: A nutty, aromatic flavor that’s beloved in Turkey and the Middle East.
• Strawberry: Fresh, fruity, and refreshing, often made with natural fruit purees.
• Rose: A delicate, floral flavor that pairs beautifully with the chewy texture of dondurma.
• Coffee: A rich, robust flavor for those who enjoy the taste of coffee in their desserts.

In addition to these classic flavors, modern variations can include fruit-based flavors, hazelnut, or even experimental concoctions with spices and herbs.

The Dondurma Experience

Dondurma is more than just an ice cream; it’s an experience, especially when purchased from a Turkish street vendor. Vendors use a long-handled scoop, or sometimes a special shovel-like utensil, to serve the ice cream, and they often engage in a playful exchange with customers. Vendors are known for their “teasing” tactics—offering the ice cream to the customer, only to pull it away just as they reach for it. The stretching and spinning of the ice cream is all part of the fun. The customer usually has to be quick to catch the ice cream as the vendor hands it over with a smile and a flourish.

This fun and interactive style of serving dondurma has become one of its trademarks, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the experience.

Dondurma in Modern Times

While dondurma originated as a regional treat, it has grown in popularity both within Turkey and internationally. You can now find dondurma in many countries, from the streets of Istanbul to the food markets of Europe and the Middle East, and even in parts of North America. Turkish ice cream shops abroad often bring the unique experience of dondurma to new audiences, introducing them to a chewy, creamy treat unlike any other.

As the demand for unique, artisanal food experiences grows, dondurma has captured the interest of global food lovers who seek new and exciting textures and flavors in their desserts. Its cultural significance as part of Turkish food heritage has also contributed to its international appeal.

Conclusion

Dondurma is more than just Turkish ice cream—it is a delightful, chewy experience that showcases the unique flavors and textures of Turkey’s rich culinary history. With its stretchy, elastic consistency and rich flavors, dondurma has captivated ice cream lovers worldwide, providing a new twist on a classic frozen treat. Whether you’re enjoying it from a street vendor in Istanbul or at a Turkish dessert shop near you, the experience of eating dondurma is one that’s bound to leave you with a smile and a craving for more