Turkish ice cream seller entertains patrons with ice cream and pranks

Turkish ice cream seller entertains patrons with ice cream and pranks

2023-02-22

Today, we take you to meet Kemal Demir, an ice cream seller from Turkey. Demir has been delighting his customers in Tamsui for 23 years with dollops of Turkish ice cream. The experience is not only just tasty but also a good laugh as he also plays pranks on his customers. The tricks are actually a Turkish tradition, which delight tourists and Taiwanese alike. FTV reporter Stephany Yang was one of his recent victims. Let’s see what happened.

He scoops up a generous portion of ice cream, puts it in the cone, and then hands me an ice cream cone before quickly pulling the cone away.

This stall is a favorite among many visitors when they visit New Taipei’s Tamsui, because this is not an ordinary ice cream shop. This seller will surprise his customers with all kinds of tricks. Not only does it test the customer’s reflexes, but also their patience.

Member of the public
I think it’s fun, because the owner controlled it so the ice cream doesn’t fall to the floor. He was fantastic.

Member of public
I’m very happy. I was worried about Turkey, so I came to talk with him. I really respect that he works hard.

This Turkish ice cream is called maras. The ice cream is made out of goat milk and the roots of wild orchids. The owner of this vendor is Kemal Demir. Originally from Turkey, he has been making Turkish ice cream for almost 50 years. He learnt the trade at just 10 years old and opened up his first ice cream shop when he was 16. In 2001, he opened up a stall in Tamsui. All the ingredients he uses are from Turkey. He wants to introduce Turkish culture to Taiwanese people.

Kemal Demir
Store owner
The city I am from is where the ice cream originated from. I came to Taiwan 23 years ago, and I am now 63 years old. Taiwanese people are nice, and everyone will say “hello” to you. It’s all handmade, and it takes around five hours to make ice cream like this.

Demir says his family and friends were greatly affected by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Turkey and Syria. After he contacted his family in Turkey, he learned that his daughter, son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter were all safe, but more than 20 of his other relatives had passed away. He says he is planning to visit Turkey next month.

Kemal Demir
Store owner
I will go next month. Many of my relatives and friends have passed away. I’m quite upset. But, many people in Taiwan have come here to buy things, and I am very grateful for their help. They encouraged me and tell me to keep going, which makes me very happy. Thanks, Taiwan.

Having lived and worked in Taiwan for 23 years, Demir is still passionate about his craft. He says his son will move to Taiwan to help run the business in the future. The family hopes to continue to delight visitors with their creative tricks and teasing, and introduce Turkish culture to more people around the world.

好吃又好玩土耳其冰淇淋店老闆專訪

2023-02-22

今天，我們帶你認識來自土耳其冰淇淋店的老闆戴麥褀。23年來，戴麥褀在淡水製作土耳其冰淇淋，並將家鄉賣冰淇淋使用的各種創意花招和客人互動，考驗客人的反應能力及耐心，也吸引遊客的目光。

挖起一大球冰淇淋，放在甜筒上，佯裝要給記者，又迅雷不急掩耳的收回。

許多來到淡水遊玩的民眾，都會造訪這間店家，因為這可不是一家普通的冰淇淋店，老闆用盡各種意想不到的花招，考驗客人的反應能力及耐心。

[[民眾]]
"覺得跟好玩，因為老闆可以控制得很好，不讓冰淇淋掉到地板上，很厲害"

[[民眾]]
"我很開心。我擔心土耳其，所以我來找他談談。我尊重他，因為他工作非常努力"

這種土耳其冰淇淋叫做”馬拉許”，由羊奶和野生蘭花的根製作而成。來自土耳其的老闆戴麥褀，製作土耳其冰淇淋已有近50年的時間了。他10歲開始學習技法，16歲開了第一家店，2001年在淡水開店。他使用的所有原料都來自土耳其，希望能向台灣人介紹土耳其文化。

[[老闆戴麥褀]]
"我的城市是冰淇淋(起源)的地方，我23年前到台灣，我現在63歲。台灣人真的很好，都會打招呼。都是手工的，5個小時做冰淇淋這樣子"

戴麥褀說，土耳其和敘利亞邊界發生的7.8強震，他在土耳其的家人和朋友都受到了很大影響，在與土耳其的家人取得聯繫後，得知女兒、兒子、兒媳和孫女都平安，但有20多名親屬已經去世。戴麥褀計劃下個月回土耳其一趟。

[[老闆戴麥褀]]
"下個月會去，我親戚比較多死掉了，朋友也有。心情不好。台灣人很多人來買，幫忙我很高興。他們說，加油加油。我很高興。台灣謝謝！

在台灣生活和工作將近23年，戴麥褀仍然對他的手藝充滿熱情，兒子將來也打算搬到台灣幫忙經營店面。一家人希望繼續用他們的創意花招吸引遊客，並將土耳其文化介紹給世界各地更多的人。

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