Kemah salt production continues using 3,000-year-old traditional methods

Kemah salt production traditional salt harvesting Erzincan geographical indication Evliya Çelebi

In the Kemah district of Erzincan, traditional salt production methods dating back approximately 3,000 years continue to be practiced. At a facility in Kömür village, saltwater is extracted from tunnels roughly 100 meters underground and transferred to approximately 150 pools covering 250,000 square meters.

Under the heat of the sun, the water evaporates, leaving behind crystal salt that workers collect through labor-intensive processes. This historical production site was noted by the famous Ottoman traveler Evliya Çelebi in his work, ‘Seyahatname’. The production season typically runs from mid-June to mid-September.

Kemah salt is highly valued for its mineral content, including magnesium, fluorine, and iodine, and is preferred by cheese producers and food preservation specialists due to its ability to extend shelf life. The product is distributed to various cities, including Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir. Local authorities are currently working toward obtaining European Union geographical indication certification for the salt.

Entities

Alper Koçaker · Erzincan · Evliya Çelebi · Kemah · Metin Tanrıkulu

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] Kemah salt has already completed the geographical indication process within Turkey. www.haber1.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The salt facility uses approximately 150 pools for evaporation. www.karsmanset.com · www.gazetebirlik.com · www.mersinhaber.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Saltwater is extracted from tunnels approximately 100 meters underground. www.karsmanset.com · www.gazetebirlik.com · www.mersinhaber.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The province is applying for European Union geographical indication registration for Kemah salt. www.haber1.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The salt is produced without any chemical additives using natural evaporation methods. www.karsmanset.com · www.gazetebirlik.com · www.mersinhaber.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The salt production facility covers approximately 250,000 square meters. www.karsmanset.com · www.gazetebirlik.com · www.mersinhaber.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Salt production occurs between mid-June and mid-September. www.karsmanset.com · www.gazetebirlik.com · www.mersinhaber.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Kemah salt contains high levels of magnesium, fluorine, and iodine. www.haber1.com