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Coffee

Radio Frequency X

World Leader Pretend
ChrisP said:
After sipping latte's in 6 countries, I will always look for the small coffee shops. There is no substitute.

That's a good rule Chris, but stay away from small coffee shops designed to serve tourists (especially American ones) where there is less of a local demand for quality coffee. They tend to have prices and lower quality, mainly because the coffee shop doesn't care if their product is good or bad.
 

des

Active Member
I have a question about what looks like a "brick" of candy in the bottom of the coffee cup (I would go back to the page and get the name but this forum is kind of slow and I have a DSL line even). It was termed Turkish delight. Is this the same stuff that was called Turkish taffy here in the US? There was even a brand name of it, but it hasn't been available for years. It came under the brand name "Halvah" I think. (I believe I saw it again but not under the same brand name.)

--des
 

Booko

Deviled Hen
des said:
It came under the brand name "Halvah" I think. (I believe I saw it again but not under the same brand name.)

Halvah? I've seen that at kosher markets.
 

James the Persian

Dreptcredincios Crestin
des said:
I have a question about what looks like a "brick" of candy in the bottom of the coffee cup (I would go back to the page and get the name but this forum is kind of slow and I have a DSL line even). It was termed Turkish delight. Is this the same stuff that was called Turkish taffy here in the US? There was even a brand name of it, but it hasn't been available for years. It came under the brand name "Halvah" I think. (I believe I saw it again but not under the same brand name.)

--des

Halvah (or Halva - in Romanian it doesn't have the last 'h'), is not the same as Turkish delight (which is called lokum in Turkish). Turkish delight is a soft, sticky sweet that in the west you usually find flavoured with rose or lemon but in Turkey and its surroundings, its probably more normal to find it with nuts (especially pistachios) in it, though they make many varieties. Halvah, on the other hand is harder and crumblier, less sweet and is made from ground seeds. Usually, in Greece and Turkey, it will be made from sesame, but you can get other versions. I've seen it with pistachios in it also, and in Romania it's quite common to find it made from sunflower seeds.

James
 

des

Active Member
Thanks James. I was curious. I think that Turkish delight is the sweet is given to tempt the kid in Narnia. (?)

Perhaps the picture was deceptive as the sweet looked quite hard. Yes, I have seen Halva in the deli. Though what I saw was marbled with chocolate. I am not much of a candy eater, but you could buy it by the pound. If they had offered a little sample I would have tried it.

--des
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
Radio Frequency X said:
I want a coffee with superb acidity, a bright/strong full taste, medium to full body textures, but not too buttery, (Guatemalan and Sumatra coffees are wonderful in this regard), with a smoky or earthy aroma, and a smooth but memorable cocoa finish (no need to a fruity or thin finish to a good cup of Joe!).
Wow, that sounds good! I just became a coffee drinker this year, rather late in life. I am considering becoming a coffee connoisseur. Are there any bad effects of drinking plain coffee, besides caffeine headache?
 

zenzero

Its only a Label
about coffee.
here is what coffee means:
Carrot, an egg, and a cup of coffee


You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.

Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.





"Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat?

Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a break-up, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

May we all be COFFEE




__._,_.___
 

michel

Administrator Emeritus
Staff member
JamesThePersian said:
Halvah (or Halva - in Romanian it doesn't have the last 'h'), is not the same as Turkish delight (which is called lokum in Turkish). Turkish delight is a soft, sticky sweet that in the west you usually find flavoured with rose or lemon but in Turkey and its surroundings, its probably more normal to find it with nuts (especially pistachios) in it, though they make many varieties. Halvah, on the other hand is harder and crumblier, less sweet and is made from ground seeds. Usually, in Greece and Turkey, it will be made from sesame, but you can get other versions. I've seen it with pistachios in it also, and in Romania it's quite common to find it made from sunflower seeds.

James

I love Halva; it's popular in Spain - I guess my favourite is with pistachios (which is sold in some supermarkets locally) - The other type I have had, as you say, is from ground seeds.
 

lilithu

The Devil's Advocate
Green Gaia said:
We have a fair few :coffee2: drinkers here.

Tell us what coffee brands you like best and why.

How do you take your coffee: black, cream & sugar, milk?

Was there ever a time when you didn't like coffee but now you do?
I like full body, medium acidity, dark roast. Brewed strong (preferably espresso), and then diluted with milk (preferably steamed) and little bit of sugar.

I have always liked coffee, used to sneak it out of the pot when I was a kid while my parents weren't watching.

Favorite brand?: Peet's Major Dickason's Blend!! :drool:
 

Radio Frequency X

World Leader Pretend
Willamena said:
Wow, that sounds good! I just became a coffee drinker this year, rather late in life. I am considering becoming a coffee connoisseur. Are there any bad effects of drinking plain coffee, besides caffeine headache?

It can slow your metabolism in the long run, it can dehydrate you, and it can raise your heartbeat. So, like with everything, practicing moderation is wise.
 

Willamena

Just me
Premium Member
My new favourite coffee: Belgian chocolate from 'Second Cup'. It has a chocolatey nutty flavour.
 

Storm

ThrUU the Looking Glass
We have a fair few :coffee2: drinkers here.

Tell us what coffee brands you like best and why.
Stumptown, because it's a local business based on fair trade. It's pretty spendy, so I can't get it often, but I'm willing to pay more for my principles when I have the option. Good coffee, too.

Other than that, I'm pretty easy to please. I like dark roasts, so I usually get some form of French Roast.

How do you take your coffee: black, cream & sugar, milk?
Half & half and Torani Vanilla syrup. I recently switched to sugar-free syrup, and it was surprisingly good. I adjusted in no time.

Was there ever a time when you didn't like coffee but now you do?
When I was a little kid.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
My favorite flavor is Banana Coffee with cream, and for the regular, I enjoy Maxwell House or Folgers with cream.
I had sugar originally, and didn't like drinking coffee without it, but that since had changed to cream only when I was about 22 years old at my uncles insistence to drink coffee like a man. LOL. -NM-
 

verecund

Member
I can't seem to drink plain ol' hot coffee-- caffeine actually does nothing for me, and if something doesn't taste good, I can't drink it. I like White Mochas or Iced Lattes. I'm all about the sweet stuff.

My favorite flavor is Banana Coffee with cream, and for the regular, I enjoy Maxwell House or Folgers with cream.
I had sugar originally, and didn't like drinking coffee without it, but that since had changed to cream only when I was about 22 years old at my uncles insistence to drink coffee like a man. LOL. -NM-

...I didn't realize there was a way to drink coffee "like a man". o_O
 
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