Istanbul , at the crossroads of history , is also a center for sweet confections . Known in the United States as Jordan almonds , Istanbul confectioners often use other nuts besides the almond as a base and utilize colorful coatings , including silver or gold . Candied fruit , Turkish delight and sugar - coated cakes are among the city 's sugary bounty . Sweet pastes such as these are molded into colorful shapes .
Istanbul , at the crossroads of history , is also a center for sweet confections . Candied fruit , Turkish delight and sugar - coated cakes are among the city 's sugary bounty . Sweet pastes such as these are molded into colorful shapes .