In Turkey, the love affair with good food is embodied in the way that locals start their day. Breakfast is not merely a meal – it is a family gathering; a sit-down event intended to be savoured and enjoyed mindfully and decadently. The typical line-up for a Turkish breakfast usually includes a variety of breads, cheeses, butter, honey, jam, eggs, meats, olives, tomatoes and cucumbers, which are all washed down with copious amounts of strongly brewed tea. If you’re travelling to Turkey and are wondering how to start your day off on the highest possible note, a few traditional dishes really make the meal stand out… and will awaken your taste buds with a bang!

1. Menemen

This classic Turkish breakfast dish is a tantalizing medley of tomatoes, onions and green peppers all lovingly fried in olive oil. Fresh eggs and spices are then cracked into the mix and served immediately in the pan that it has been prepared in. The wonderful blend of fresh flavours and ingredients is an indispensable feature of any traditional Turkish table.

2. Börek

Börek is as close as you will get to ‘breakfast on the run’ in Turkey, and yet it still inspires the desire to slow down and truly savour this traditional food. Typically Börek is made from yufka, which is dough similar to that of a phyllo pastry. The filling provides a blank canvas for creativity, as Börek can be filled with anything from eggplant to minced meat to cheese and even potatoes. Made hot and fresh every morning, Börek provides a variety of flavours and taste sensations that truly start your day off right.

3.Kaymak

Kaymak is simply heavenly and will satisfy any desire for a sweet treat in the morning. Kaymak is rich clotted cream that has been scraped off the top of fresh milk and then refrigerated. This cool creamy treat is slathered onto a slice of fresh bread and then drizzled with honey, making it the absolute star among traditional Turkish breakfast spreads.

Surprisingly the famous Turkish coffee is not part of the breakfast meal. The Turkish word for breakfast is kahvalti, which roughly translates to ‘before or under coffee’. Dark, strongly brewed tea accompanies the Turks’ first meal of the day, but it all leads up to their first sip of well-made Turkish coffee after the meal is complete… and trust us: this beverage will make you feel more awake than ever before, perfectly preparing you for a full day of sightseeing!