Mersin Cezeryesi

Mersin cezeryesi is a regional sweet with a jelly-like texture, made by cooking carrots and nuts in sugar, and officially registered as a geographical indication product. Derived its name from the Arabic word “cezer” (carrot), this product is particularly associated with the city of Mersin in Türkiye’s Mediterranean Region. Cezerye attracts attention due to its natural ingredients, long shelf life, and distinctive consistency, and is included among locally produced goods protected by geographical indication. Produced both through traditional methods and industrial processes, cezerye is an important part of the regional culinary culture and reflects the economic and tourist potential of the area.

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Sources on Mersin cezeryesi indicate that its production began in the Mersin region from the early 20th century and was introduced by communities of Arab origin. The earliest documented activities related to cezerye production started in small-scale enterprises and later evolved into large-scale commercial manufacturing.

Mersin cezeryesi was registered as a geographical indication under the category of designation of origin by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office in 2008. The registration certificate provides detailed descriptions of the product’s unique ingredients, production process, physical characteristics, and quality criteria. Geographical indication protection ensures not only the safeguarding of the product’s name but also the preservation of its place of production, traditional methods, and local knowledge.

The main ingredient of cezerye is yellow carrot. In addition, powdered sugar, lemon salt, water, and optionally nuts such as walnut, hazelnut, or pistachio are used. No additives are included in the product; it is produced exclusively with natural ingredients.

1. Carrots are cleaned, grated, and boiled at 120 °C for approximately 30 minutes.
2. The boiled carrots are passed through a meat grinder to be mashed.
3. The mashed carrots are cooked with sugar until they attain a jelly-like consistency.
4. Nuts are added optionally to the mixture.
5. The mixture is poured into molds, cooled, sliced, and typically coated with coconut flakes before packaging.

According to the geographical indication registration certificate, Mersin cezerye has the following technical properties:

• Color: Light orange to dark orange
• Shape: Rectangular or cylindrical
• Texture: Elastic and easily sliceable
• Aroma and Taste: Pronounced carrot and nut aroma with balanced sweetness

These criteria are accepted as quality standards by both traditional producers and regulatory authorities.

Cezerye holds a significant place in Mersin’s gastronomic tourism. Due to its long shelf life, portability, and variety of packaging options, it is also regarded as a souvenir item. It is among the most frequently purchased regional products by visitors to Mersin. Moreover, cezerye production contributes economically to small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.