Bergama Kozak Pine Nut

Bergama Kozak Pine Nut is a type of pine nut obtained from pine trees growing under natural conditions in the Kozak Plateau of the Bergama district in İzmir Province, Türkiye. It possesses specific physical and chemical properties meeting defined standards. It was registered as a geographical indication by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office on 10 June 2011.

Product Description and Distinctive Characteristics

Bergama Kozak Pine Nut has a plump body, large size, light cream color, soft texture and a blunt tip. Physically, an average of 138 kernels are found per 100 grams of product. The average length is 14.25 mm, width is 5.48 mm, and kernel yield is 27.73%. Chemical analyses show a moisture content of 4.64%, water activity of 4.52%, ash content of 4.93%, fat content of 44.90%, protein content of 31.97%, and carbohydrate content of 13.90%.

The Kozak Plateau where the product is cultivated has highly permeable soil composed of granite, gneiss and crystalline schist. The region’s average annual temperature ranges between 15–16 °C, annual rainfall is 700–800 mm, and relative humidity is approximately 70–80%. These conditions enable pine trees to produce sufficient quantities of mature fruit and ensure the high quality of the harvested pine nuts.

Bergama Kozak Pine Nut (AA)

Production Method

Cones (künar) harvested from naturally growing pine trees within the geographical boundary are weighed upon acceptance and deposited into dry storage pools. There, they are washed in a closed-system washing tank and stored in silos for one day. Subsequently, they are sorted into four size grades using sieves and then processed in shell-crushing rollers to separate the inner and outer shells.

After separation, the inner kernels are classified using pneumatic separators, rotating sieves and optical systems. They are then spread in plastic trays with a thickness of 2–3 cm and left to naturally dry for 1–3 days. After drying, the seed coat and husk are removed using a brush system. The product is then washed again, pre-dried, dried in a furnace with circulating hot air at 80 °C, and disinfected.

The product exiting the furnace is transferred to a cooling unit to reach ambient temperature. After final inspection on a sorting belt, the pine nuts are weighed in cloth bags, packaged and stored at +8 °C.

Bergama Kozak Pine Nut (Bergama Chamber of Commerce)

Geographical Boundary and Monitoring

Bergama Kozak Pine Nut is cultivated exclusively in the following neighborhoods of Bergama district, İzmir Province: Terzihaliller, Yukarıcuma, Yukarıbey, Aşağıbey, Aşağıcuma, Ayvatlar, Çamavlu, Demircidere, Okçular, Göbeller, Güneşli, Hacıhamzalar, Hisar, Kaplan, Karaveliler and Kıranlı.