Teltel
Teltel is a fibrous, pişmaniye-like sweet unique to Çorum. It is made by pulling and folding sugar syrup with roasted flour and leblebi powder over and over.
What it is
To make teltel, sugar-and-water syrup is brought to a hard-candy consistency, then pulled and folded repeatedly with roasted flour and Çorum’s famous leblebi (roasted-chickpea) powder until it forms fine threads. The result is a sweet with a pişmaniye texture that melts in the mouth.
The Çorum interpretation
What sets teltel apart from other pişmaniye is the use of Çorum’s emblem, leblebi powder. Pulling teltel is also not a one-person job; traditionally several people pull it together, making it an occasion for solidarity and conversation on winter evenings and when welcoming guests.
Cultural significance
With both its tie to leblebi and its made-together tradition, teltel is a distinctive sweet that reflects Çorum’s culinary culture. Requiring effort and sharing, it is more than an ordinary dessert.