Türkiye's rich culinary traditions secure global recognition

In Türkiye's rich cultural landscape, geographical indication (GI) registration serves as a vital tool for protecting and promoting regional specialties.

Gaziantep is a city renowned for its culinary and cultural heritage, which seems to be spearheading this movement, as it secured its position at the top of GI registrations in the country.

Geographical indications safeguard the reputation of regional products and link them to their origins.

The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TURKPATENT) has recorded a significant increase in GI registrations, reaching 1,512 by the end of 2023.

This boost reflects a growing appreciation of Türkiye's diverse regional offerings.

Gaziantep leads with a remarkable record of 105 registered products, proving its commitment to preserving its heritage.

The city has registered notable products like baklava, beyran, muska, firik and Araban garlic. Gaziantep is also in the process of registering seven additional products, including its famous pistachio ice cream and garlic pickle.

Following Gaziantep, Hatay, with its 58 products, is at the forefront in the number of GI applications, registering unique items such as Antakya kunefe and kaytaz borek.

Konya and Diyarbakır also stand out with their respective 73 and 56 registered products, contributing significantly to Türkiye's GI registrations.

The GI registration process aims to boost local economies and preserve cultural heritage. "We actively work with local stakeholders like governorates, municipalities and chambers of commerce to protect and promote these unique products," a TURKPATENT spokesperson said.

Türkiye is also making strides in registering its products in the European Union (EU).

In the past year, Türkiye applied for EU registration of several products, including Kilis olive oil and Isparta rose oil.

By 2024, the EU had registered 21 Turkish products, marking Türkiye's expanding global culinary influence.

Source: Newsroom