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Dondurma

Dondurma is a Turkish origin, mastic ice cream which is mixed and made along with a resin from a mastic tree. Its recipe was kept secret by the Ottoman Empire for around 300 years but in the late 19th century it was brought open by a Syrian merchant.

Its unique qualities include its hard nature and resistance to melt. It is sold by street vendors as well as in front of the stores, the sellers often wear the traditional Ottoman Empire outfit. There is also a practice by the vendors to tease the customers in a humorous way especially the kids by pretending to placing the dondurma on the cone and then lifting it with the same stick that is used to hold the cream.