AlamyFollowers of a flavoured espresso or candy deal with could not know that many of the world’s hazelnuts come from one seaside mountain vary in Turkey, the place ladies have been producing them for hundreds of years.
Situated on the slopes of the Pontic mountain vary overlooking the Black Sea in north-eastern Turkey, the traditional metropolis of Giresun is thought for its beautiful coastal views and dramatic jagged mountains. However greater than something, it is recognized for its hazelnuts.
Greater than 72% of the world’s hazelnuts come from Turkey, and about 60% come from the Jap Black Sea area the place Giresun is situated. The custom of hazelnut farming goes again hundreds of years right here. Historic Greece’s so-called “father of historical past”, Herodotus, even waxed about Turkey’s hazelnut bounty within the fifth Century BC. Because the 1400s, hazelnuts from Giresun and the encompassing japanese Black Sea area have been imported to Europe and past.
The BBC programme Discovering the World’s Desk explored Turkey to study extra in regards to the supply of this candy nut.
Earlier than a batch of hazelnuts make their method, for instance, right into a jar of Nutella, they’re farmed in locations like Turkey. In Giresun, hazelnuts have traditionally been grown by ladies, and right now ladies are additionally starting to take over the manufacturing and sale of hazelnut items as properly, reminiscent of an array of chocolate merchandise. Up to now, the nuts have been typically exported abroad, solely to be bought again to Turkey within the type of issues like chocolate bars and spreads. Nevertheless, companies like Dwelling of the Hazelnut, run by three sisters whose household has deep roots within the native hazelnut business, are beginning to change that.
“On this area, 80% of the hazelnut merchandise are processed by ladies,” Sayari Sungur, one of many firm’s house owners and co-founders, tells Discovering the World’s Desk host Nick Kwek. “It’s all the time ladies who’re finest at taking good care of these nuts, each within the fields and within the gardens. So now we wish these ladies to develop into each the growers and the decision-makers.”
Meet the Host
Nick Kwek is a TV presenter, director, producer, expertise and meals journalist and a frequent host of the BBC Journey Present.
Since launching 9 years in the past, Dwelling of the Hazelnut has been sustaining Giresun’s historical custom whereas additionally changing into one thing of an instance for a brand new era of native ladies. Sungur takes satisfaction in her household’s success and in the way it has impressed different ladies within the space to begin their very own enterprises. “Now that a number of ladies have began to see how beneficial this product is, many extra are beginning to produce it and personal it. I feel that is phenomenal,” she instructed the BBC.
Although Turkey’s hazelnut business continues to be booming, there’s bother on the horizon. As in lots of locations all over the world, the nation’s skill to develop hazelnut timber and shrubs is underneath menace from environmental components. A altering local weather is affecting the crop right here, resulting in extra humidity and an inflow of pests – each of which may stunt and kill hazelnut crops.
“[As the climate has changed], new pests are arriving within the final three or 4 years,” defined Dr Sebahat Okay Ozman-Sullivan, a plant safety scientist and hazelnut farmer who grew up within the Giresun area. “It is a huge drawback to manage as a result of it is feeding on many crops. Additionally, if we’ve the excessive humidity we’re having the mould illness,” she added, explaining that hazelnuts usually thrive in drier climates.
Ozman-Sullivan worries that native makes an attempt to curtail the pest infestation could also be doing extra hurt than good: “Folks use pesticides [but]… it is not good as a result of there are lots of microorganisms residing within the soil and we’ve to maintain them alive.”
Hazelnut farmers in Giresun are fiercely pleased with the bounty that comes from their distinctive mountain-meets-sea ecosystem. And plenty of, like Ozman-Sullivan, are decided to guard it and their traditions for future generations.
“We wish to [continue to] develop hazelnuts on this stunning panorama,” she mentioned.
For extra, watch the video above, or tune into Discovering the World’s Desk for a full episode on Turkey’s candy bounty.
