Koska Pistachio Tahini Halva 200g — Turkish Sesame Halva

Koska Pistachio Tahini Halva is the classic Turkish sesame dessert known in Turkey as fıstıklı tahin helva — slabs of stone-ground sesame tahini folded into fine threads, sweetened, and studded with roasted pistachios. The texture is the whole point: dry and crumbly on the first bite, then melting into a smooth, nutty sweetness as it warms on your tongue. Each 200g pack is sealed to keep it fresh in transit.

The flavour comes almost entirely from what's inside. The base is sesame paste (tahini) at roughly 57% of the recipe, which is why real halva tastes deeply of toasted sesame rather than just sugar. Roasted pistachios run through it for green colour, crunch, and a second layer of nuttiness. Koska makes it the traditional way using beet sugar and a plant-based soapwort (çöven) extract — the natural ingredient that gives authentic Turkish halva its signature crumbly, aerated structure.

What's inside: sesame paste (tahini), sugar, pistachio, soapwort extract, citric acid. It is gluten-free and contains no preservatives and no lard. Allergens: contains sesame and pistachio; may also contain other nuts and seeds.

Halva is one of the most versatile things in a Turkish pantry. Eat a square on its own with strong tea or Turkish coffee, crumble it over yoghurt or warm toast at breakfast, or fold pieces into ice cream for an instant dessert. It travels and stores well, which is why it has been a gift and a fasting-table staple for generations across Turkey, the Levant, and the Gulf.

About Koska: Koska has been making halva since 1907, when the family's first halva shop opened in Turkey. Today it is Turkey's largest halva producer and exports to dozens of countries — so you are getting a recipe that has been refined for well over a century.

Note: in warm conditions a little sesame oil may rise to the surface of natural halva. This is normal and the halva is fine to eat — simply trim the top if you prefer.