History of Baklava

If you search information about Baklava on the internet you can see not only Turks also you can see Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and almost whole Balkan states’ tribes. Greeks, Bulgarians, Armenians, Jewishes, Arabs claim that Baklava as their own traditional dessert.

When its considered that whole Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean and Balkans were belonged to Ottoman Empire so Baklava can be recognized as Ottoman dessert but Ottomans known as Turks so especially Greeks and Arabs reject that definition about where Baklava is from.

Baklava in Ottoman Empire

Whether the origin of Baklava was belonged to Greeks, Turks, Arabs or anywhere else. Its undeniable fact that contemporary delicious Baklava is shaped as gloriously and wispy in Ottomans Empire times.

Oldest records about Baklava in Ottoman archive belong to kitchen diaries of Topkapı Palace in Sultan Fatih ages. According to this record, in 1473 in Saban month Baklava was made in Palace. In middle of 17th century, far from İstanbul, Evliya Celebi mentioned about he ate a baklava at house of Bitlis authority. In Vehbi’s Surname, he mentioned baklava is delivered to guests by Sultan 3rd Ahmet’s son’ circumcision.

From all kind of records, we can easily understand that Baklava was known almost every corner of the Empire and delivered in special events and meetings.

To impress people who were rich and exacting at those times, we can see that Baklava was used and that situation made baklava high class dessert rather than a simple dessert.

Baklava Alayi

There is no doubt that most skillful masters of Baklava lived in palace. The reason of being importance of Baklava is not only its delicious and glorious also it entered the menu of Sultans. In late of the 17th century and early 18th century a new tradition came up called Baklava Alayi. At the middle of each Ramadan bairam, Sultan sent hundreds tray of baklava for his soldiers. Each tray delivered to 10 Yeniceri soldiers and while they carrying baklava trays whole crowds watched them. This tradition leads baklava to important symbol of Ottomans royalty.

In Ottomans Empire, Baklava gave a name on some governmental tradition and this made Baklava belongs to Ottomans whether its origin is somewhere else or not.

Ümit Sinan Topçuoğlu