@barakallahufeek: educative-This is "simit" (also spelled "simite"), that iconic circular bread often seen hanging on hooks or stacked high in street carts across Turkey and parts of the Middle East and Balkans. Let’s walk through everything worth knowing about this beloved bread: its history, preparation, cultural significance, and contemporary life. Simit is a circular bread, typically with a crunchy, golden-brown crust coated in toasted sesame seeds. Its interior is soft and slightly chewy. It’s sometimes described as a “Turkish bagel,” but that comparison isn’t quite accurate simit is lighter, less dense, and not boiled like a bagel. The earliest written records of simit date back to 1593, during the reign of Sultan Murad III. Court documents mention the regulation of simit production and pricing, showing it was already popular among the masses. The word “simit” comes from the Arabic "samīd" meaning "fine flour" or "semolina," reflecting its wheat base. By the 17th century, simit had become a fixture in Istanbul — sold by street vendors who walked around with wooden trays or later set up small carts. By the 19th century, the simit seller (known as a "simitçi") had become as iconic in Istanbul as the call to prayer or the Bosphorus ferri Simit is a go-to breakfast item in Turkey. It’s often eaten with white cheese, olives, tomatoes, and çay (black tea) a simple, satisfying morning ritual. The simitçi (simit seller) is an archetype of Turkish city life. You’ll find them: Carrying trays on their heads Simit is more than food — it’s memory, rhythm, and aroma. It connects villagers and city folk, old empires and modern cafés, hunger and simplicity. Watching a man sell simit isn’t just watching trade it’s watching a thread of history weave through the present.

Barakallahu Feek

Open In TikTok:

Region: KE

Thursday 03 July 2025 13:05:22 GMT