Also asked as: “Does Turkish delight contain gelatine?” · “Is lokum halal?”
Starch vs gelatine
Authentic lokum is set with starch. If the ingredients list gelatine without a halal source, treat it as not halal.
How to check it yourself
Recipes differ between countries and change. Look for a halal logo, then read the ingredients on the pack you are holding — or scan the barcode for an instant halal check.
Turkish delight and lokum
Lokum is made from sugar syrup thickened with starch, and flavoured with rosewater, lemon or mastic. The best-known Western version is the chocolate-covered Turkish delight bar.
Some cheaper British and Eastern European products use gelatine. Some contain colours of animal origin, so read the label, particularly for pink and red pieces.
Written and checked by
Hafiz Nasir Mehmood
Quran HafizIslamic researcher