introduction
Nuts considered a delicious snack that is very popular all over the world,
and among the places with a long history and long tradition in producing and marketing nuts,
Turkey stands out as one of the most prominent centers in the world.
The Turkish nut market reflects a rich diversity of products and traditional techniques used in processing nuts,
giving unique identity and global appeal. exploring market, which considered world of flavors and traditions,
and where history meets modernity in the manufacture and marketing of Turkish nuts. Also, due to the natural conditions, the picturesque environment,
and the fertile soil suitable for agriculture,
Turkey has begun to produce the best types of nuts and the highest quality on the global market.
Productivity and agriculture
Pistachio
In the year 2023, Turkey produced approximately 160 thousand tons of pistachios and had 58 million pistachio fruit trees, which is a 5% increase over the previous year.
It had 25 million non-fruitful trees,its 7% more than the previous year, and all One fruit tree produces between 2-4 kilograms of pistachios.
Pistachio production is widespread across Turkey, with 56 out of 81 provinces growing pistachios, according to the Gaziantep Commodity Exchange.
the southeastern provinces of Gaziantep and Sanliurfa account for 80 percent of the total production and the southeastern provinces of Adiyaman, Siirt, Kilis, Kahramanmarash, Mardin,
Diyarbakir account for another 15 percent of the total production.
The remaining five percent spread thinly across the Aegean, Mediterranean and Marmara regions.
two main types of pistachios grown in Turkey,
Gaziantep variety and the Siirt variety, both are unique to Turkey and differ in size and shape compared to pistachios grown in Iran and the United States of America.
The Gaziantep variety represents 85 percent of the pistachios grown in Türkiye.
Siirt variety represents the remaining 15 percent of production; variety is considered a higher yielding variety than the Gaziantep variety.
Walnut
Turkey had 1 million walnut-producing trees spread over 30,000-40,000 hectares of land, and they produced approximately 25,000 tons of walnuts per year.
Hazelnut
Revenue and export
The main hazelnut producing countries are Turkey, Italy, Spain, USA and Greece.
hazelnuts produced in the former Soviet Union, Iran, Romania and France, these countries do not have significant input into the global hazelnut trade.
Turkey is the world’s leading producer and exporter of hazelnuts and in addition,
it covers approximately 70 percent and 82 percent of global production and exports respectively.
Italy follows with about 20 percent in production and 15 percent in export.
In 2023, Türkiye exported approximately $1 billion worth of nuts to the global market
Favorite Turkish nuts
Nuts are a great source of nutrients because they are healthy and satisfying.
You can easily eat it in every meal of the day,
as it is very nutritious with the minerals and vitamins it contains.
we have many types of nuts, usually produced by drying in the sun.
Among the nuts with high nutritional value, the most famous are cashews, hazelnuts, walnuts, pistachios, and chickpeas.
Especially Turkey, considered the homeland of hazelnuts and pistachios,
best quality nuts produced there.
Turkey nuts are widely consumed in the country whether in dishes or as a snack, especially with Turkish tea.
Due to their high quality, some of these nuts are in high demand and very popular all over the world.
In this blog, we will explore the five best nuts you can import from Turkey,
as well as their uses and health benefits.
Hazelnut
Hazelnuts are one of the most popular nuts grown in Türkiye.
The country is responsible for producing about 70% of the world’s hazelnuts.
majority of Turkish hazelnuts are grown in the Black Sea region, the climate and soil are ideal for their growth.
Hazelnuts have been grown in Turkey for centuries, and have a rich history in the country’s cuisine.
Hazelnuts are used in many culinary creations, including sweet and savory dishes. In Turkish cuisine,
hazelnuts commonly used in desserts like baklava, popular pastry made from layers of filo dough, honey syrup, and chopped nuts.
Hazelnuts used as a topping for desserts. Nut butter “tahini” another popular ingredient used in Turkish cuisine.
Tahini is used in many sauces and dips, including hummus, baba ghanouj, and muhammara.
It can be used as a spreadable butter.
Aside from its culinary uses, hazelnuts market has a big important part of the Turkish economy.
It is one of the country’s important exports.
Hazelnuts are exported around the world and are used in a variety of products, including chocolate, spreads and coffee.
Pistachio
Pistachios have a special place in Turkey and the country is particularly famous for a special type of pistachio called Gaziantep pistachio.
It is grown primarily in the southeastern region of the country, where the climate is dry. Turkish pistachios are known for their unique taste, vibrant green color, and firm, juicy texture.
Gaziantep pistachios particularly famous for their quality and unique flavor.
It’s a popular snack in Turkey and is often eaten roasted, salted, or incorporated into dishes like baklava
and Turkish delight, taking its taste to the next level.
Walnuts
Walnuts another type of nut that is widely grown in Türkiye.
The majority of Turkish walnuts are grown in the Aegean and Marmara regions, where the climate and soil are ideal for their cultivation.
Walnuts are served in different ways depending on their use. Turkish walnuts have a slightly bitter taste and are used in various dishes in Türkiye.
They are used in many desserts, including baklava and Turkish delight.
Walnuts used as a topping for yogurt-based dishes and are incorporated into savory dishes like stuffed eggplant, adding a different touch to these delicious dishes.
almonds
Almonds widely used in various forms in Turkey, and one of the nut varieties grown in Turkey.
It is mainly grown in the eastern region of the country as the climate and soil condition are quite balanced for its growth in these regions.
Turkish almonds have a mild, sweet taste and are often used in baking and desserts.
They are used in a variety of desserts, including Turkish delight and halva.
Almonds used as a topping for salads and yogurt-based dishes.
Chestnut
Chestnuts are favorite among many in Türkiye, especially in the winter months.
It is grown primarily in the Black Sea region, where the climate and soil are ideal for its growth.
Turkish chestnuts are known for their large size and sweet, nutty flavor.
Chestnuts are versatile nuts used in many sweet and savory dishes.
They are often roasted and eaten as a snack or used as a topping for salads.
Chestnuts used in many desserts, including Turkish chestnut dessert.
Health benefits of consuming nuts
Nuts are a delicious and convenient treat that can be enjoyed on all types of diets from keto to vegan.
it contains a high percentage of fat, it has many health benefits.
Full of antioxidants
Antioxidants, including polyphenols found in nuts, can combat oxidative stress by neutralizing free radicals, which are unstable molecules that may cause cell damage and increase the risk of disease.
Research shows that the antioxidants in walnuts and almonds can protect the delicate fats in your cells from damage due to oxidation.
study found that 2-8 hours after eating whole pecans, participants experienced a 26-33% reduction in levels of “bad” cholesterol, a major risk factor for heart disease.
May help with weight loss
and considered a high-calorie food, research suggests that nuts may help you lose weight.
One large study that evaluated the effects of the Mediterranean diet found that people who ate nuts lost an average of 5 cm from their waists.
Almonds consistently shown to promote weight loss rather than weight gain in controlled studies.
Some research suggests that pistachios aid in weight loss as well.
study of overweight women, those who ate almonds lost nearly three times as much weight and saw a much greater reduction in waist size than the group that was watching their diet.
nuts are very high in calories, research shows your body does not absorb all of them, as part of the fat remains trapped within the fibrous wall of the nuts during the digestion process.
