Sarıgöl residents begin traditional winter paste preparation

In the Sarıgöl district of Manisa, local women have begun the traditional process of preparing tomato and pepper paste to use during the winter months. Utilizing the summer heat, the preparation involves washing, chopping, and salting the vegetables before letting them sit in containers under the sun.

The process requires regular daily stirring. Once the tomatoes have softened, the mixture is strained and spread onto wide trays to dry under the sun until the water is fully evaporated. Due to current hot weather conditions, the process takes approximately 10 days to complete.

This seasonal activity is characterized by the 'imece' tradition, a form of communal cooperation where neighbors assist one another with the labor-intensive tasks. Selda Taşçı, a local resident, noted the effort required for the annual task, explaining that the final product is stored in jars in shaded areas for winter use.