Hamshen Armenians founders of Turkish confectionary art
The Turkish confectionary owes its popularity and unique taste qualities to the Armenians of Hamshen who, as founders of the delicious food art, keep preserving its traditions also today, a Turkish photographer and journalist, Ughur Biryol, said in recent comments.
Speaking to the Turkish website Gazeteduvar.com.tr, Biryol shared his knowledge of the history and development of the confectionary art among the Armenians.
“Our studies demonstrate that around 189 families of Hamshen moved to Russia and Poland in the 19th century to master confectionary and give life to its traditions also here. They certainly did the business in big cities, not in Hamshen. Greeks and the Armenians of Constantinople were the first founders of confectionary stores in Istanbul, whereas the natives of Hamshen (Hamshenis) were the first to bring confectionary to the cities and towns of Anatolia,” he said.
The Hamshenis founded their first settlements in the 8th century. The records by the Armenian historian Ghevond reveal that about 10,000-12,000 Eastern Armenians who escaped the Arab invaders’ yoke, had to
later migrate to the Byzantine Empire led by Prince Hamam Amatuni and his father, Shapuh.
The historical district of Hamshen is in Turkey’s north-east (Black Sea region).
