Macun facts for kids
Macun (also called Macun şekeri in Turkish) is a soft, sweet, and colorful paste from Turkey. It's a popular street food that can be made with many different herbs and spices. Macun first came from a spicy paste called Mesir macunu, which was a traditional herbal medicine from ancient times. Back then, people used macun as a medicine. It was usually served on a round tray with different sections for each flavor, and this way of serving it is still used today. Eating macun is part of some Turkish traditions.
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What is Macun?
Macun is a type of street food often sold outside, especially during street festivals. It's a favorite sweet for children! Macun can be very bright and colorful. It's made with lots of herbs and spices. Some traditional flavors include bergamot, cinnamon, mastic (a type of plant resin), mint, rose, lemon, and plum.
Macun's History
Macun started out as a spicy paste called Mesir macunu. This was a traditional herbal medicine from ancient times. Long ago, macun was used as a medicine.
People believed macun could make the body strong and calm the spirit. Islamic doctors made hundreds of different kinds of macun. They mixed various herbs and spices with honey. The honey also helped keep the macun fresh. Different macuns were used as both medicine and sweet treats. During the Ottoman period, a macun called Neruz macunu (or nevruziyye) was eaten as both a medicine and a sweet.
How Macun is Served
Macun is usually served on a round metal tray. This tray has separate triangle-shaped sections for different flavors. To serve it, a special tool called a macuncu mablaği or macunkeș is used. This tool looks a bit like a screwdriver. The macun is scooped up and then wrapped around a small stick. Sometimes, different flavors are wrapped together to make a colorful striped sweet! In Turkey, people who sell macun are called macuncu.
Serving in the Past
In the past, macun serving trays were made of copper or wood. Street vendors would put these trays on portable stands. Other vendors carried macun in a container strapped to their waist. This container also had separate sections for different flavors. Some macun sellers in Istanbul, Turkey, would play music to attract customers. Street vendors sold macun at spring festivals like Hıdırellez, on market days, holidays, and at weddings.
Macun Customs
In the Anatolia region, there's a wedding custom where the groom eats macun on his wedding night. Also, at the Mesir Bayrami ceremony in Manisa, Turkey, macun is given out to people on the streets.
See also
In Spanish: Macun şekeri para niños
