The Sugar Trade: How Sweeteners Shaped Constantinople

In this episode of Constantinople to Istanbul, Lucas and Luna explore the surprising role of sugar in the city's history. From medieval apothecaries in the Byzantine Empire to the Ottoman sultan's obsession with refined sweets, they trace how sugar arrived via Indian Ocean trade routes, was cultivated in the Levant, and transformed Constantinople into a hub of confectionery. They discuss the impact of sugar on the city's economy, its use in medicine and court rituals, and the shift from honey to cane sugar. Along the way, they touch on the Genoese merchants in Galata, the founding of the first sugar refineries, and the social implications of sugar consumption. This episode offers a fresh perspective on a familiar commodity, showing how sugar shaped urban life, trade networks, and cultural practices in Constantinople for centuries.

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