Turkish delight is known to have been produced in Turkey as early as the late 1700s, hence its name. The exact origin of these sweets is yet to be definitively determined; however, the word "lokum" comes from the Arabic "al-halkum". In the Arab world, Turkish delights are called "rāḥat al-ḥulqūm" (رَاحَة الْحُلْقُوم) which means "throat comfort". According to the Hacı Bekir company, Bekir Efendi, named Hacı Bekir after performing the Hajj, moved to Istanbul from his hometown Kastamonu and opened his confectionery shop in the district of Bahçekapı in 1777. He produced various kinds of candies and "lokums", later including a unique
Bekir Sami Kunduh been no governmental approval on this subject. After his return to Ankara, he resigned his office on May 8, 1921. He was one of the founders of the Progressive Republican Party of Turkey. After the dissolution of the party because of the assassination attempt against Mustafa Kemal in İzmir, he was tried and acquitted. He died in İstanbul in 1933. Although he did not have a surname during his lifetime, the Surname Law was adopted the following year after his death, and his family adopted the surname Kunduh. Bekir Sami Kunduh Bekir Sami Kunduh (; 1867 – January 16, 1933)