Antalya producer crafts traditional cedar tar from mountain roots

In the Kaş district of Antalya, producer Osman Akın is utilizing traditional methods to produce liquid cedar tar from dried cedar roots. After obtaining necessary permits and paying fees to the General Directorate of Forestry and the Kaş Forestry Management Directorate, Akın collects roots that are decayed, previously cut, or naturally dried from mountainous areas.

The production process involves chopping the roots and placing them in a barrel. By heating the exterior of the barrel with fire, the roots “sweat,” causing a liquid to flow through a tube into a container, forming the tar. Akın produces approximately 300 liters of liquid tar annually during the summer months, selling the product for 1,000 TL per kilogram.

Local elders note that this liquid tar has been used for centuries in livestock management. It is traditionally employed by shepherds as a remedy for parasites such as lice, ticks, fleas, and mange.