Five New Local Food Products Registered in Turkey’s Hatay Province

Turkey’s Hatay province has added five new local food products to its list of officially registered specialties, bringing the total number of registered products in the province to 75.

The move aims to document and protect Hatay’s unique culinary heritage. The region is known for its rich and diverse cuisine, as well as its long-standing culinary traditions shaped by a blend of different cultures.

The provincial authorities highlighted Hatay’s strong position among Turkish provinces when it comes to registering local products and protecting geographical indications. This helps preserve the identity of these dishes and flavors, prevents them from disappearing, and gives them official recognition that can increase their market value both locally and internationally.

The five products that received Geographical Indication (GI) registration in Hatay are:

• Hatay Mercimekli Aşı — a traditional lentil dish from Hatay.
• Hatay Şam Tatlısı — a traditional Hatay dessert.
• Antakya Sasiço — a traditional dish from Antakya.
• Hatay Helva Hattuş — a traditional Hatay halva dessert.
• Hatay Mortadella Yemeği — a Hatay-style mortadella dish.

With these additions, the number of officially registered food products with geographical indications in Hatay has risen to 75, making it the third province in Turkey in terms of the number of geographically protected products.

The move is part of a broader strategy by local authorities to support local producers and promote Hatay’s unique cultural and culinary heritage.

The initiative is also expected to boost food tourism in the region and attract more visitors interested in tasting its wide variety of local specialties.