Dishes you should try in Balya: Keşkek, Höşmerim, Ev Eriştesi and Balya Tereyağı. This guide also covers the local products to buy and what Balya is famous for.
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Famous Dishes of Balya
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Keşkek
Keşkek, prepared by slow-cooking and pounding crushed wheat and lamb, is the traditional dish of weddings and festive meals in Balya.
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Höşmerim
Höşmerim, prepared by frying fresh curd cheese in butter and sweetening it with sugar, is Balya's traditional dessert. It is served warm.
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Ev Eriştesi
Noodles cut from hand-made dough, served with chicken broth or a yoghurt sauce. It is one of the basic dishes of Balya's rural cuisine.
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Balya Tereyağı
A butter product bearing the name of Balya, with a protected geographical indication.
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Wine (Ilıca town)
Wine is produced in Ilıca town from grapes grown in the vineyards of Çukurcak Neighbourhood.
Dishes from Balıkesir Cuisine
What to eat in Balıkesir →These dishes are known throughout Balıkesir province; see the provincial food guide for details.
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Balıkesir Höşmerim (cheese and semolina dessert)
A dessert made with cheese, semolina and syrup, with a registered geographical indication.
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Balıkesir Kaymaklısı (clotted-cream dessert)
A clotted-cream dessert with a registered geographical indication.
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Susurluk Ayranı and Tostu
Frothy Susurluk ayran, served with the Susurluk toasted sandwich (tost); both are registered.
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Balıkesir Düğün Çorbası (wedding soup)
A traditional soup with a registered geographical indication.
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Ayvalık Lor Tatlısı (curd-cheese dessert)
An Ayvalık dessert made with lor (curd) cheese, with a registered geographical indication.
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Balıkesir Tombul Bamyası (Balıkesir plump okra)
Small-podded okra registered with a protected designation of origin.
What to Buy in Balya: Local Products
- Balya Tereyağı Balya Tereyağı was registered as a protected geographical indication on 15 August 2023 (TÜRKPATENT registration no. 1449). Product group: solid and liquid fats, including butter. Registered by: Balıkesir Metropolitan Municipality.
- Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı Olives grown in the southern parts of Balya are turned into oil using the traditional stone-press method.
- Bal Pine honey obtained from beekeeping in the wooded areas of the district, known for its rich aroma and dark colour.
What Balya Is Famous For: Culture and Traditions
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Madencilik Mirası
Balya is a settlement known in the Ottoman period for lead and silver mining. Mines run by French companies in the 19th century brought a cosmopolitan population and modern infrastructure to the district.
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Yörük Kültürü
Yörük communities living in the mountainous parts of Balya continue the tradition of nomadic livestock farming. Yörük festivals and traditional crafts are living examples of this culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I eat in Balya?
Balya is known for 5 local dishes, above all Keşkek, Höşmerim, Ev Eriştesi and Balya Tereyağı. Keşkek, prepared by slow-cooking and pounding crushed wheat and lamb, is the traditional dish of weddings and festive meals in Balya.
What is Balya famous for?
Balya is known for Keşkek, Balya Tereyağı and Madencilik Mirası. Its best-known sights include Balya Mine Workings and Balya Castle.
What to buy in Balya?
Local products and souvenirs to buy in Balya include Balya Tereyağı, Zeytin ve Zeytinyağı and Bal.
Balya Travel Guide
- Things to Do in Balya 8 places to visit
- What to Eat in Balıkesir All the famous dishes of the province
What to Eat in Other Districts of Balıkesir
- Altıeylül 4 dishes Balıkesir Bandırma Köftesi (Bandırma meatballs), Höşmerim (cheese dessert) and Keşkek (cracked wheat and meat dish)
- Ayvalık 5 dishes Ayvalık Kelle Peyniri/Ayvalık Sepet Peyniri, Ayvalık Lor Tatlısı and Ayvalık Zeytinyağı (Ayvalık olive oil)
- Bandırma 3 dishes Bandırma Pidesi, Kuş Gölü Levreği and Keşkek
- Bigadiç 4 dishes Keşkek (wheat and meat porridge), Mantı (dumplings) and Gözleme (savoury flatbread)
- Burhaniye 5 dishes Burhaniye Olive Oil, Zeytinyağlı Enginar and Papalina Tava
- Dursunbey 5 dishes Keşkek (pounded wheat and meat), Çullama (lamb on yufka) and Höşmerim
- Edremit 5 dishes Edremit Zeytinyağı (Edremit olive oil), Edremit Zeytinyağlı Yemekleri (vegetables cooked in olive oil) and Kazdağı Alabalığı (Kazdağı trout)
- Erdek 7 dishes Erdek Kapıdağ Zeytinyağı, Erdek Balık Çorbası (fish soup) and Çinekop Tava (fried çinekop fish)
- Gömeç 5 dishes Olive Oil Wild Herb Dishes, Papalina Tava and Gözleme
- Gönen 4 dishes Balıkesir Gönen Pirinci (Gönen rice), Gönen Pidesi and Keşkek (cracked wheat and meat dish)
- Havran 4 dishes Zeytinyağlı Enginar (artichokes in olive oil), Keşkek (cracked wheat and meat dish) and Gözleme (stuffed flatbread)
- İvrindi 5 dishes İvrindi Kelle Peyniri, Keşkek (pounded wheat and meat) and Höşmerim (sweet cheese dessert)
- Kareşi 4 dishes Balıkesir Köftesi (grilled beef meatballs), Höşmerim (fresh cheese dessert) and Keşkek (pounded wheat and lamb)
- Kepsut 3 dishes Kepsut Bükdere Küflü Katık Peyniri, Höşmerim (cheese and semolina dessert) and Balıkesir Tiridi (lamb and bread stew)
- Manyas 4 dishes Manyas Kelle Peyniri, Göl Levreği (Lake sea bass) and Keşkek (wheat and lamb porridge)
- Marmara 3 dishes Ada Balığı (island fish), Avşa Şarabı Eşliğinde Meze (meze with Avşa wine) and Gözleme
- Savaştepe
- Sındırgı 3 dishes Keşkek (wheat and lamb porridge), Çullama (lamb and onion on yufka) and Höşmerim (cheese and semolina dessert)
- Susurluk 4 dishes Susurluk Ayranı, Susurluk Tostu and Keşkek (wheat and lamb porridge)