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Dishes you should try in Saimbeyli: Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge), Arabaşı Soup (chicken and flour soup), Bazlama (flatbread) and Tarhana Soup. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Saimbeyli is famous for.

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Famous Dishes of Saimbeyli

  • Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge)

    A traditional dish made by simmering cracked wheat and meat for hours and then pounding them together. It is the star dish at weddings and holiday feasts in the mountain villages of Saimbeyli.

  • Arabaşı Soup (chicken and flour soup)

    A local soup prepared by adding a mixture of flour and yoghurt to chicken broth. It is the staple dish at winter tables in the mountain villages of the Taurus.

  • Bazlama (flatbread)

    A traditional bread cooked on a griddle. It is an integral part of Saimbeyli's plateau culture and is eaten at breakfast with fresh butter and honey.

  • Tarhana Soup

    Tarhana, prepared and dried in the summer months, is the basic soup that never leaves the tables of Saimbeyli during its harsh winter climate.

  • Havuz

    Mentioned as a local dish among the famous foods of Çatak village, which belongs to Saimbeyli.

  • Cherry

    According to the municipality's history page, the district became important for its cherry orchards and plateaus.

Dishes from Adana Cuisine

What to eat in Adana →

These dishes are known throughout Adana province; see the provincial food guide for details.

  • Adana Kebabı

    Made from hand-minced meat of a male sheep, tail fat, chilli flakes and salt; no other spice is added. It is cooked over embers and served with lavaş, sumac onions and greens. It is a product with a geographical indication registered by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.

  • Şalgam Suyu (fermented turnip and carrot drink)

    A slightly sour drink made by fermenting black carrots and turnips in salted water; it comes in hot (acılı) and mild (acısız) versions. Adana şalgam has received a geographical indication not only in Türkiye but also from the European Union.

  • Bici Bici (iced starch dessert)

    A summer dessert made of shaved ice, starch pudding, icing sugar and rose syrup. Adana bici bici is registered with a geographical indication; it is found at street vendors and cafés.

  • Ciğer Şiş (liver skewers)

    Skewers of lamb liver cooked over embers, the classic breakfast of Adana mornings; they are found at the liver restaurants (ciğerci) that open early.

  • Şırdan (stuffed lamb tripe)

    Lamb tripe filled with spiced rice stuffing and boiled, served with cumin at street stalls in the evening.

  • Analı Kızlı Çorbası (mother-and-daughter soup)

    A Çukurova dish in which large stuffed bulgur dumplings (the mother) and small unfilled ones (the daughter) meet in a sour soup with chickpeas.

What to Buy in Saimbeyli: Local Products

  • Mountain Honey Mountain honey obtained from the rich flora of Saimbeyli's forested mountains is the region's most valuable natural product. It is produced using traditional beekeeping methods.
  • Walnut Walnut trees grown in the mountain villages of Saimbeyli form one of the district's important agricultural products.
  • Pekmez (grape and mulberry molasses) Grape and mulberry pekmez are indispensable products of Saimbeyli's winter preparations. They are boiled down and concentrated using traditional methods.

What Saimbeyli Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions

  • Plateau Migration Tradition

    For centuries, people from the lowland plains have migrated to the Saimbeyli plateaus in the summer. This seasonal migration is one of the cornerstones of the region's cultural identity.

  • Yörük Culture

    The Yörük tradition, still kept alive in the mountain villages of Saimbeyli, bears the traces of nomadic livestock culture. Felt making and kilim weaving are important elements of this culture.

  • Folk Music Tradition

    Saimbeyli is one of the living representatives of the folk music tradition of the Taurus. Türkü folk songs sung to the accompaniment of the bağlama are an important part of the region's oral cultural heritage.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I eat in Saimbeyli?

Saimbeyli is known for 6 local dishes, above all Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge), Arabaşı Soup (chicken and flour soup), Bazlama (flatbread) and Tarhana Soup. A traditional dish made by simmering cracked wheat and meat for hours and then pounding them together. It is the star dish at weddings and holiday feasts in the mountain villages of Saimbeyli.

What is Saimbeyli famous for?

Saimbeyli is known for Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge), Mountain Honey and Plateau Migration Tradition. Its best-known sights include Çatak (Obruk) Plateau and Saimbeyli (Haçin) Castle.

What to buy in Saimbeyli?

Local products and souvenirs to buy in Saimbeyli include Mountain Honey, Walnut and Pekmez (grape and mulberry molasses).

Saimbeyli Travel Guide

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