Koska Pistachio Tahini Halva (Fıstıklı Tahin Helva) comes in a 400 g tub with a green label. The label lists only a handful of ingredients: sesame paste (tahini) at 57%, sugar, pistachios at 8%, a small amount of emulsifier, soapwort root extract, citric acid and vanilla flavouring. Soapwort is the traditional ingredient that gives halva its light, flaky, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Per 100 g the pack gives 564 kcal, and the lid shows the 'natural source of fibre' mark. It is made in Istanbul by Merter Helva, the producer behind the Koska brand.
Turkish families serve halva sliced into thick pieces with strong tea after a meal, at the breakfast table next to olives and white cheese, or as a quick treat for visitors. A spoonful also works as a topping: crumble it over vanilla ice cream or warm milk pudding, or sandwich a slice between two plain biscuits for a simple snack. Use a dry, sharp spoon or knife to lift pieces out of the tub so the halva keeps its texture.
Keep the tub tightly closed at room temperature in a dry place; the best-before date and lot number are on the lid. The halva contains sesame and pistachio and may contain traces of hazelnut, walnut and almond.