Top 5 Mersin Foods

Ezra Olive Oil is a producer based in Mersin, Turkey. The company specializes in the production of high-quality extra virgin olive oil.

They utilize traditional methods combined with modern technology to ensure the purity and flavor of their olive oil. The olives are sourced from local groves, and the production process emphasizes sustainability and environmental responsibility.Expand

The company prides itself on producing high-quality, natural honey sourced from the rich, biodiverse landscapes of Turkey. Their honey is known for its purity and rich taste, harvested from the flowers of various plants found in the local region.

Eğriçayır follows sustainable practices to ensure that the honey is of the highest quality, preserving the natural flavors and health benefits. With a commitment to natural products, their honey is popular for its unrefined, raw state, offering a taste of the region’s diverse flora.Expand

Tantuni is a traditional street food dish from Mersin, consisting of thinly sliced beef or lamb that is seasoned with Turkish spices and herbs, usually cooked with onions and tomatoes. The combination is cooked in specially designed tantuni pans. Traditionally, the dish is served rolled in lavash, with ground sumac and a lemon wedge on the side. Since every tantuni chef has his own method and secret technique of preparing the dish, it is said that the flavors of tantuni are never the same. Tantuni was originally created as a poor man's dish - it's very nutritious because it consists of meat with a lot of fat stuffed into bread. Some believe that the name of the dish refers to the sound that the meat and spices make when they are brought from the rim of the pan to its center.Expand

Kısır is a classic Turkish salad made with thin bulgur wheat, tomatoes, mint, garlic, parsley, and either lemon juice or sour pomegranate molasses. Red pepper flakes are often added to the salad to make it spicier. Lemon juice is typically used in northwestern Türkiye, while pomegranate molasses is more commonly used in the southeast of the country. The salad is ideal for buffets and meze, but it is also often used as a side dish for a variety of barbecued meat dishes. It is traditionally served cold or at room temperature.Expand

Arguably the most laborious Turkish soup and one of Gaziantep's favorites, yuvarlama çorbası is made with spiced meatballs, chickpeas, yogurt broth, olive oil, and other optional ingredients. The soup is traditionally prepared for the three-day celebration of the fast-breaking Ramazan Bayramı, and it is served in virtually every Anatolian home. The preparation of this festive soup is a time-consuming process, and everyone is involved, as often both family members and neighbors get together to share the work and joy of rolling hundreds of tiny yuvarlama köfte. These spiced meatballs are typically made with lean beef mince, and either rice or bulgur flour, but they can also be made without meat. Köfte are then steamed and, together with pre-cooked chickpeas, added to the warm süzme or strained yogurt broth drizzled with minty olive oil. Yuvarlama soup can even include stewed chunks of beef, lamb, or chicken, and it is most often accompanied by rice pilaf, which altogether makes not only for quite a nutritious meal but also an amazing combination of different flavors and textures.Expand

Cezerye is a Turkish dessert originating from Mersin. It is made with caramelized grated carrots, sugar, and nuts such as walnuts, hazelnuts, or pistachios, although hazelnuts are the most traditional option. The name cezerye is derived from the word cezer, meaning carrot. Once prepared, the concoction is either rolled into balls or shaped into flat, rectangular disks. Regardless of the shape, cezerye is typically covered with shredded coconut before consumption. In Türkiye, this sweet confectionery is often thought of as an aphrodisiac and it is especially popular on special occasions.Expand

Karsambaç is a traditional dessert originating from the highlands of Mersin, most noteably the town of Çamlıyayla. This unique dessert is made with a combination of clean mountain snow and a sweet syrup such as honey, sugar syrup, or molasses. The blocks of snow are taken from the mountains with a pickaxe, and once brought to the city, the snow is grated with a knife before it's mixed with the sweet syrup. This dessert is often sold on street corners as a refreshing summer treat. It's considered to be a natural ancestor to granitas and snow cones.Expand