Koska Grape Molasses 380 g - Turkish Pekmez (Üzüm Pekmezi), No Added Sugar

Koska Grape Molasses is a traditional Turkish grape molasses, known in Turkish as üzüm pekmezi: a thick, dark, glossy syrup made by slowly concentrating the juice of ripe grapes until it reduces into a rich natural sweetener. There is nothing else in the jar. The ingredient list is 100% grape molasses, with no added sugar and no preservatives, so all the sweetness comes from the grapes themselves. How it is made: freshly pressed grape juice is gently cooked down in a closed, low-temperature system (below 80°C) until the natural sugars concentrate and the syrup turns deep brown. This slow-reduction method is the same idea behind pekmez as it has been made in Turkish kitchens for centuries. Grape molasses (üzüm pekmezi) is the most popular pekmez in Turkey, and the Aegean and Manisa regions are its traditional heartland, where grape harvests have long been boiled down into syrup each autumn. Taste and texture: thick and pourable, with a deep, raisin-like sweetness and a faint earthy tang. It is less sharp than cane molasses and rounder than honey, which makes it easy to use across both sweet and savory cooking. How to use it: the classic Turkish way is tahin-pekmez, stirring grape molasses into tahini for a breakfast spread on warm bread. Drizzle it over yogurt, pancakes, oatmeal, ice cream or fresh fruit. Use it as a natural sweetener in baking, marinades and dressings, or stir a spoonful into milk or warm water. Because grapes are its only ingredient, pekmez has traditionally been valued in Turkish kitchens as a wholesome source of natural energy, and it naturally contains minerals such as iron, calcium, potassium and magnesium that come from the fruit. This 380 g glass jar is made by Koska, a Turkish confectioner with roots going back to 1907 and one of Turkey's best-known names for halva, tahini and molasses. Suitable for vegetarians. Store in a cool, dry place and stir if natural separation occurs.