When we say ice cream, we envision a cold, smooth dessert that melts immediately in our mouths. In Turkey, however, ice cream has a twist — quite literally! The Turkish ice cream is known as Dondurma and is renowned globally for its chewy, stretchy consistency and refusal to melt. It is not merely a dessert; it is an experience.

In this article, we will delve into what makes Dondurma special, its history, ingredients, how it is produced, and why it is still winning the hearts of food enthusiasts worldwide.

What is Dondurma?
Dondurma is an old Turkish ice cream renowned for its special texture — thick, chewy, stretchy, and slow to melt. The name Dondurma translates to “freezing” or “ice cream” in Turkish.

In contrast to normal ice cream, Dondurma is elastic in consistency, and vendors can stretch, pull, and twist it playfully while serving. This has become a renowned aspect of Turkish street food culture.

History of Dondurma
Dondurma was created in the Kahramanmaraş region of southeastern Turkey. It is commonly known as Maraş Dondurması (Maraş Ice Cream). Residents of this region created a special recipe using two unique ingredients: salep (orchid root flour) and mastic (mastic tree resin).

Salep makes the ice cream stretchy and chewy, and mastic provides a delicate, pine-flavored flavor and stabilizes the mixture.

What Makes Dondurma Unique?
1. Salep – The Secret Ingredient
Salep is prepared from the powdered roots of wild orchids originating from Turkey. Salep thickens the ice cream and provides it with elasticity.

2. Mastic – Flavor & Texture Enhancer
Mastic resin not only imparts flavor but also chewiness and stops easy melting.

3. Slow Churning Process
Slowly churned, stretched, and beaten with long metal sticks, traditional Dondurma removes air bubbles and makes the texture stronger.

4. Fun Street Performances
Turkish ice cream sellers are renowned for playing tricks on customers with the Dondurma before selling it to them. They stretch, pull, and flip the ice cream to surprise customers — making the experience fun.

Main Ingredients of Dondurma
Full-fat milk (goat milk if you want the traditional flavor)

Sugar

Salep powder (orchid root flour)

Mastic resin (optional)

How to Make Dondurma at Home
Although the traditional method involves special equipment and ingredients, here’s a simplified version of Turkish Dondurma that you can make at home.

Ingredients:
1 liter full-fat milk

200g sugar

1 tbsp salep powder

¼ tsp mastic resin (ground, optional)

Method:
Step 1: Prepare the Milk Base
Heat the milk in a saucepan over low heat.

Add sugar gradually and stir until dissolved.

Step 2: Add Salep and Mastic
Sprinkle salep powder slowly into the milk while stirring continuously to prevent lumps.

Add ground mastic resin.

Step 3: Slow Cooking
Continue stirring for 30-40 minutes until the mixture thickens.

The mixture should turn sticky and slightly elastic.

Step 4: Chill and Freeze
Allow the mixture to cool.

Pour into a container and freeze. Every hour, take it out of the freezer and mix vigorously with a fork or hand mixer to simulate the stretching process.

Step 5: Final Freeze
Freeze for 5-6 hours or overnight until set.

Serving Suggestions
Serve in cones or bowls.

Sprinkle crushed pistachios, chocolate chips, or fruit on top.

Enjoy with traditional Turkish desserts such as baklava or künefe.

Popular Dondurma Flavors
Plain Vanilla

Pistachio

Chocolate

Strawberry

Rosewater

Mastic-flavored

Dondurma vs Regular Ice Cream
Feature Dondurma Regular Ice Cream
Texture Chewy, Stretchy Soft, Creamy
Main Thickener
Salep (orchid root)
Egg yolks, Cream, Milk
Melting Speed
Very slow
Fast
Cultural Aspect
Street Performance
Traditional Dessert
Health Benefits of Dondurma
Although it’s still a dessert, Dondurma has salep, which is reputed to help digest and energize. It is also lower in fat than some Western ice creams if goat milk is used traditionally.

Why is Dondurma Famous Worldwide?
1. Unique Texture
Humans adore the unexpected chewiness that no other ice cream can provide.

2. Fun Serving Style
The mischievous pranks by Turkish vendors have become viral on social media.

3. Cultural Experience
Dondurma is not only about the flavor — it’s about the happiness of the experience.

Dondurma is not only ice cream — it’s a slice of Turkish culture and tradition. With its special stretchy texture, pleasant flavor, and fun serving style, Dondurma keeps winning hearts everywhere around the globe.

If you ever go to Turkey, don’t forget to taste original Dondurma from a street vendor. And if you’re a adventurous chef, attempt making it at home for a yummy and fun dessert!