Is Loukoumi Vegan, Gluten Free or Sugar Free? A Dietary Guide

Loukoumi has one of the shortest ingredient lists of any sweet: sugar, water, starch and flavouring, sometimes with nuts. That simplicity is good news for many diets. This guide answers the questions we are asked most often. One rule applies throughout: recipes vary between makers, so always read the label of the specific box before you buy for someone with an allergy or a strict diet.

At a Glance

Is Loukoumi Vegan?

Traditional Cypriot loukoumi is set with starch, not gelatine. It contains no dairy, eggs or animal fats, so in its classic form it is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. This is one of the clearest differences from mass-produced jelly sweets, which often rely on gelatine.

Things that can change the answer: a small number of modern recipes add gelatine for a firmer set, some flavours use honey, and some red colourings are not vegan. The ingredient list will tell you.

Is Loukoumi Gluten Free?

The starch used in traditional loukoumi is normally corn starch, which does not contain gluten. Most loukoumi is therefore gluten free by recipe.

If you have coeliac disease, look for a gluten free statement on the pack, because a product can be made without gluten yet be produced in a facility that also handles wheat.

One product in our range is not gluten free and is often confused with loukoumi because of its name: Athienitika loukoumia are traditional almond-filled wedding pastries made with flour. They are delicious, but they are a baked good, not a starch sweet.

Is Loukoumi Dairy Free and Egg Free?

Yes in its traditional form. Milk and eggs are not part of the recipe. Be cautious only with unusual modern varieties that are coated in chocolate or filled with cream.

Does Loukoumi Contain Nuts?

Many of the best boxes do. Almonds and pistachios are folded through the mixture, as in the rose and almond and pistachio varieties.

Plain flavours such as rose, lemon or mixed fruit have no nuts in the recipe. However, loukoumi makers almost always produce nut and plain varieties in the same kitchen, so we cannot recommend any loukoumi for someone with a serious nut allergy.

Is There Sugar Free Loukoumi?

Ordinary loukoumi is mostly sugar, and there is no way around that. For people cutting down, we stock a sugar free loukoumi from Aphrodite Delights, made with sweeteners in place of sugar.

Two practical notes. Sweeteners of the kind used in sugar free confectionery can have a laxative effect if you eat a lot at once, so enjoy a couple of pieces rather than the whole box. And if you have diabetes or another medical condition, check the nutrition panel and follow the advice of your doctor or dietitian. Sugar free does not mean carbohydrate free.

Is Loukoumi Halal or Kosher?

The traditional recipe contains no gelatine, no animal products and no alcohol, which is why many people who follow halal or kosher diets are comfortable eating it. We are not aware of formal halal or kosher certification on the products we stock, so if certification matters to you, please treat them as uncertified.

Is Loukoumi Healthy?

It is a sweet, and it is best thought of as one. What can fairly be said is that it is fat free, made from very few ingredients, and traditionally eaten one or two small cubes at a time alongside unsweetened coffee. As treats go, that is a fairly civilised habit.

How Long Does It Keep?

Several months in a cool, dry cupboard in a sealed container. Do not refrigerate it, as it hardens and turns sticky. If the pieces begin to cling together, toss them in a little icing sugar or corn starch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Turkish delight have gelatine in it?

Authentic loukoumi and lokum do not. Cheap supermarket versions sometimes do. We explain the differences in loukoumi vs Turkish delight.

Can children eat loukoumi?

Yes, though the pieces are soft and chewy, so cut them smaller for young children, and avoid varieties with whole nuts for the very young.

Which loukoumi should I choose for a vegan friend?

A plain rose, bergamot, lemon or carob box, after a quick look at the ingredient list. Our flavour guide describes each one.

Browse the full range in our loukoumi collection. If you need the exact ingredient list for any box before ordering, contact us and we will send it to you.