Gediz Höşmerimi

Gediz Höşmerimi is a dessert unique to the Gediz district of Kütahya province, prepared using fresh unsalted cow cheese, semolina, wheat flour, white sugar, water, and baking powder. The dough, baked in an electric oven, is completed through a two-stage syruping process. In the first syruping, powdered sugar and lemon juice or lemon salt are used, while the second syruping employs a thick syrup locally known as "ırvak," made solely from water and white sugar. Gediz Höşmerimi is a daily produced and consumed dessert with deep roots in the culinary culture of Gediz district. It is frequently served at gatherings and banquet meals and holds a geographical indication.

• Ingredients: 250 g semolina, 400 g wheat flour, 1,500 g unripened fresh cow cheese, 4 g baking powder, 100 g white sugar.
• Procedure: Fresh cow cheese is melted in a pot over medium heat, stirred with a wooden spoon at 100°C, and boiled for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, flour, semolina, and baking powder are added and mixed continuously over low heat for 25 to 30 minutes until a homogeneous and soft consistency is achieved. Finally, 100 g of white sugar is added, and mixing continues until the dough takes on a light brown color.

• The prepared dough is poured onto a greased tray, spread evenly, and cut into equal portions of desired size. It is baked in an electric oven preheated to 200°C for approximately one hour, until golden brown.

• First Syrup: 1,000 g white sugar, 1,250 ml water, and 5 g lemon juice or lemon salt are boiled together over low heat in a pot. The hot syrup is evenly poured over the hot baked Höşmerimi using a ladle, after which the dessert is left to cool.
• Final Syruping: Once cooled, the Höşmerimi is topped with a cold, thick syrup made from 200 ml water and 200 g white sugar.

Gediz Höşmerimi may be served optionally with kaymak.

Gediz Höşmerimi is a dessert intrinsically associated with the Gediz district of Kütahya, with all production stages carried out within this geographical boundary. This dessert holds a significant place in Gediz’s culinary tradition and is recognized as a heritage flavor passed down from generation to generation, prominently featured at gatherings and banquets. Under Law No. 6769 on Industrial Property, the Gediz Municipality applied for registration on 02.02.2022, and Gediz Höşmerimi was officially registered as a geographical indication on 09.12.2022. The label "Gediz Höşmerimi" and the geographical indication logo are used on packaging and in production facilities.

The production process of Gediz Höşmerimi is regularly inspected once a year by a minimum three-member inspection body coordinated by the Gediz Municipality, comprising representatives from the Gediz Municipality, the Gediz District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Gediz Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Additional inspections are conducted upon complaint or need. Inspections verify the suitability of ingredients, adherence to production methods, and compliance with geographical indication usage rules. The inspection body may obtain expert support or procure services from public or private institutions as needed. The Gediz Municipality, as the registering authority, undertakes legal procedures to protect the rights associated with the geographical indication.