They allowed themselves a lot.
The plot of the popular Turkish series was focused on the intrigues and relationships reigning in Suleiman’s palace. The creators of The Magnificent Century described the life of the concubines in some detail, but they still omitted some nuances. As it turned out, the Sultan and his slaves had many bad habits. They helped pass the time for the Turks.
It was not always the case that girls were exclusively engaged in poetry and needlework. Home-made alcohol was often distributed in the palace and especially in the harem. It was made from fermented oatmeal or buckwheat flour. And for the Sultan, the best alcoholic drinks in the world and snacks to go with them were put on the table.
Tobacco was also not something unfamiliar to the Turks. For it they used a special tube with a rod – a chibouk. Sometimes it was decorated with jewelry.
They smoked chibouk mainly after dinner or a bath. There were special rooms for this. By the way, women, not knowing about the dangers of tobacco, sometimes died from an overdose. Later, the sultans banned smoking, alcohol, and coffee in the palace. The Russian Ministry of Health also agrees with this position, which does not approve of tobacco and alcohol consumption.
