Cemilzade is a traditional Turkish producer of Turkish delight, marzipan and other confectionery products founded in Istanbul in 1883. The business was established by Cemil Bey who opened his first shop at the age of sixteen opposite the Şehzade Mosque in the Istanbul district of the same name. Before opening the shop he learned the craft from an experienced confectioner while also studying Turkish music and playing the oud. He consequently became known as Şekerci Udi Cemil Bey meaning Cemil Bey the confectioner and oud player. The name Cemilzade means son of Cemil and originated when the business was formally transferred to his son Mehmed Ali. The family moved to Cairo in 1909 where it continued production and opened several shops selling Ottoman sweets. Following the founder’s death his sons returned to Turkey and reopened Cemilzade in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district in 1937. Operations were temporarily discontinued in 1985 before the family brand was revived with the opening of a shop in Selamiçeşme in 1995. Today the tradition is continued by the fourth generation of the Cemiloğlu family. The core assortment includes Turkish delight, almond and pistachio marzipan, akide hard candies, dragées and fruit pastes. Its recipes and production methods have been passed down within the family making Cemilzade one of Istanbul’s oldest active family producers of traditional confectionery.