341557 Fri Nov 10 14:02:21 -0800 2006 6 31 Home Cooking 0 2011014 Has anyone ever made Turkish delight at home? Is Rosewater the "essential" ingredient in it...or can i skip it? Fri Nov 10 14:02:21 -0800 2006 16849 cheesehead in recovery 1 2011032 I've not made it at home, but I definitely would not skip the rosewater - it is a very important part of the flavor of this candy. Fri Nov 10 14:12:18 -0800 2006 2011014 23506 btnfood 1 2011367 No - you do need it for it to taste authentic. You can find it at independent small grocery stores that carry Middle Eastern products, or with the flavorings in a gourmet-oriented grocery store. Fri Nov 10 16:21:05 -0800 2006 2011014 52113 Seldomsated 1 2012468 I agree. Without the rosewater it would just taste like a funny gummi bear. Fri Nov 10 21:50:39 -0800 2006 2011014 11577 Pei 1 2012608 Rosewater is the flavoring agent, so if you don't use rosewater you would have to replace it with some other flavor. I am not sure what vanilla or orange or lemon flavored lokum would taste like. There is only one way to find out.... Fri Nov 10 22:45:30 -0800 2006 2011014 34604 sweetie 1 2013252 You don't need rosewater unless you're making rose-flavored Turkish Delight. If you want some other flavor, leave the rosewater out - it'll overwhelm the other ingredients. My favorite flavor is pistachio. Anne Sat Nov 11 06:13:45 -0800 2006 2011014 12541 AnneInMpls 1 2013623 My mom always made Turkish Deklight at the holidays--some tinted green, some red. She didn't use rosewater, and they were too sweet for me. But I do like the apple-flavored commercial ones. a hint: I lived in a tiny town which didn't have 'gourmet' grocery items, so I went to the local dinner house/bar and talked the bartender into selling me a small bottle of rosewater. I used it for some Iraqi Date Filled Cookies--and the flavor is essential. So I'd say yes, get some! Sat Nov 11 15:59:47 -0800 2006 2011014 11234 toodie jane