Fruit molasses, often from grapes

Simit Quiz: Turkey's Sesame Bread Rings and Molasses Dip

This simit quiz buys a fresh ring from a street cart in Istanbul. Play 10 interactive questions on dipping dough in diluted grape molasses, a thick coat of sesame seeds, the golden crust, vendors carrying trays on their heads, Ottoman records from the 1500s, breakfast with tea and cheese, Izmir's gevrek, Ankara's crisp style and ferry seagulls.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Country
Which country is simit from?
Shape
What shape is a simit?
Seed
Which seed covers a simit?
Dip
What is the dough dipped in before the seeds?
Molasses
What is pekmez?
Vendor
How do traditional vendors carry simit?
History
How far back do Ottoman records of simit go?
Breakfast
What is simit often eaten with?
Izmir
What is simit called in Izmir?
Gulls
Who often gets simit crumbs on Istanbul ferries?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which country is simit from?
Answer: Turkey
It is sold on every corner.
Q2: What shape is a simit?
Answer: A ring
It is twisted before baking.
Q3: Which seed covers a simit?
Answer: Sesame
The crust is thickly coated.
Q4: What is the dough dipped in before the seeds?
Answer: Diluted grape molasses
It helps color and stickiness.
Q5: What is pekmez?
Answer: Fruit molasses, often from grapes
It is a traditional syrup.
Q6: How do traditional vendors carry simit?
Answer: On trays balanced on their heads
Carts are also common.
Q7: How far back do Ottoman records of simit go?
Answer: The 1500s
Istanbul court registers mention it.
Q8: What is simit often eaten with?
Answer: Tea and white cheese
It is a quick breakfast.
Q9: What is simit called in Izmir?
Answer: Gevrek
Locals insist on the name.
Q10: Who often gets simit crumbs on Istanbul ferries?
Answer: Seagulls
Passengers toss pieces into the air.

A Sesame Ring for the Road

Simit is a ring of bread coated thickly with sesame seeds, sold on street corners and carts across Turkey. Before the seeds go on, the twisted dough is dipped in pekmez, fruit molasses usually made from grapes, diluted with water, which gives the crust its color and helps the seeds stick.

Ottoman court records in Istanbul mention simit as early as the 1500s. Traditional vendors carried stacks of simit on trays balanced on their heads, and today carts sell them fresh in the morning. A simit with tea and white cheese is a classic quick breakfast.

Styles vary. In Izmir it is called gevrek, and Ankara's version is known for being thin and crisp. On Istanbul ferries, passengers often toss pieces to seagulls that follow the boats.

What This Quiz Teaches

Food fans will enjoy these questions.

What simit is
How its crust is made
How it is sold
How it is eaten
How regional styles differ

Did You Know?

Simit is cheap and filling.
Some cafés fill it with cheese and tomato.
Fresh ones come out at dawn.
The ring makes it easy to carry.
Toasted simit is popular too.