Dishes you should try in Hanak: Hanak Tel Cheese, Goose Meat, Kesme Soup and Çiriş Herb Kavurma. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Hanak is famous for.
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Famous Dishes of Hanak
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Hanak Tel Cheese
Hanak Tel Cheese was registered as a protected designation of origin on 8 April 2024 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1563). Product group: cheeses. Registered by: Ardahan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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Goose Meat
Goose farming is widespread in Hanak, and goose meat is the main food source in winter. Salted and dried goose meat is eaten as kavurma or cooked in a tandır oven.
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Kesme Soup
Kesme soup, made by cooking pieces of thinly cut dough in meat broth and yoghurt, is an indispensable dish on Hanak's cold winter days. Sizzling butter and mint are added on top.
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Çiriş Herb Kavurma
Çiriş herb gathered from the plateaus in spring is prepared by frying it with eggs and onions. Growing on Hanak's high plateaus, this plant is one of the distinctive flavours of the local cuisine.
Dishes from Ardahan Cuisine
What to eat in Ardahan →These dishes are known throughout Ardahan province; see the provincial food guide for details.
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Ardahan Kaz Eti (Ardahan goose meat)
Goose meat slaughtered in autumn, salted and dried, then cooked in winter with rice or noodles; it received a geographical indication in 2022.
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Kaz Etli Erişte (noodles with goose meat)
Homemade noodles cooked in the broth of goose meat; it is the main dish of the winter table.
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Çıldır Gölü Sazanı (Çıldır Lake carp)
The mirror carp, the main fish of the lake, caught in winter through holes cut in the ice.
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Göle Kaşarı (Göle kaşar cheese)
Kaşar cheese made from highland milk in the dairies of Göle; the Kaşar Festival has been held in the district since 1995.
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Ardahan Çiçek Balı (Ardahan flower honey)
Honey made from highland flowers, with a registered geographical indication.
What to Buy in Hanak: Local Products
- Honey Honey obtained from the rich vegetation of Hanak's high plateaus is known for its dark colour and intense aroma. Beekeeping is an important source of livelihood in the area.
- Civil Cheese Civil cheese produced in Hanak is known for its fine, thread-like texture. It is made by traditional methods from the milk of animals grazing on the high plateaus.
What Hanak Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions
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Caucasian Border Culture
Close to the Georgian border, Hanak has been influenced by Caucasian culture. Terekeme Turks and Kurdish communities live together in the area, and traditional music and folk dances reflect this cultural diversity.
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Plateau Migration
The people of Hanak migrate with their herds to the high plateaus in summer. This tradition has been maintained for centuries, and plateau life is a cornerstone of local culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in Hanak?
Hanak is known for 4 local dishes, above all Hanak Tel Cheese, Goose Meat, Kesme Soup and Çiriş Herb Kavurma. Hanak Tel Cheese was registered as a protected designation of origin on 8 April 2024 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1563). Product group: cheeses. Registered by: Ardahan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
What is Hanak famous for?
Hanak is known for Hanak Tel Cheese, Honey and Caucasian Border Culture. Its best-known sights include Kura River Canyon and Şeytan Castle.
What to buy in Hanak?
Local products and souvenirs to buy in Hanak include Honey and Civil Cheese.
Hanak Travel Guide
- Things to Do in Hanak 7 places to visit
- What to Eat in Ardahan All the famous dishes of the province
What to Eat in Other Districts of Ardahan
- Ardahan Central District 4 dishes Goose Meat, Ardahan Civil Cheese and Lor Dolması
- Çıldır 3 dishes Goose Meat Kavurma, Lake Fish (Carp) and Lor Dolması
- Damal 3 dishes Goose Meat, Hangel and Lor Aşı
- Göle 3 dishes Goose Meat, Hangel and Çiriş Otu Yemeği (Çiriş Herb Dish)
- Posof 3 dishes Goose Meat, Erişte (Noodles) and Herbed Cheese