One of the highlights of our summer trip to Europe was the experience with Istanbul’s ice cream vendors. Here are three videos — two of my kids getting ice cream and one of a stranger. If you go to Türkiye be sure to get a cone because their vendors are hilarious.
According to ChatGPT, “Turkish ice cream vendors are famous for their playful tricks and theatrical serving style. They are most closely associated with dondurma, a uniquely stretchy and chewy ice cream made with salep (orchid root powder) and mastic (a natural resin). The origins of this ice cream date back centuries to the Kahramanmaraş region in southeastern Turkey where it is still considered a point of pride.
The now iconic vendor tricks involve sleight of hand, spinning cones and teasing customers by repeatedly pulling the ice cream away. These tricks began gaining popularity as a street performance in the late 20th century, likely as a way to attract tourists. While Istanbul is the most famous spot to witness these antics due to its high tourist traffic, you can find dondurma performers in other parts of Turkey and even internationally at Turkish festivals or in global cities with Turkish communities.
As for taste, Turkish ice cream is dense, subtly sweet and more elastic than Western varieties. It does not melt as quickly and has a unique texture many describe as somewhere between taffy and gelato. Though the tricks often steal the spotlight, the flavor and craftsmanship of real Maraş dondurma are highly regarded and distinct from commercial soft serve.”
