Pervari Honey, a natural honey type produced using traditional beekeeping methods in mountainous areas and plateaus in the Pervari district of Siirt province, Türkiye. Pervari, located approximately 80 km from Siirt city center, has a rich vegetation and suitable climate conditions, which bring out the unique characteristics of this honey. The district, with an average annual temperature of 12.2 °C, has a hot and mild climate; this provides a favorable environment for honey bees. Pervari Honey, produced entirely by natural methods, is known for its dark consistency, pleasant aroma, and the health benefits it offers. This honey, known to have been consumed in the Ottoman Palace, is one of the rare types of honey in Türkiye considered a source of healing.
Pervari Honey (Siirt Municipality)
Production Methods and Varieties
Pervari Honey is produced in three different ways: Pervari Karakovan Honey, Pervari Honeycomb Honey, and Pervari Strained Honey.
- Pervari Karakovan Honey: Produced by traditional methods in karakovans (dark comb hives) made from woven baskets or hollowed-out mulberry trees, approximately one meter long and 30 cm thick. In this method, no foundation comb is used; the entire comb is built by the bees and filled with honey. This feature ensures that the karakovan honey comb is edible and medicinal. No sugar, feed, or additives are ever used in its production.
- Pervari Honeycomb Honey: Obtained by bees filling pre-built combs with honey. This honey, which is light amber in color and normal in appearance, contains no acidity, dextrin, crystallization, ash, or commercial glucose.
- Pervari Strained Honey: Produced by separating the honey from honeycomb honey using a honey extractor or a natural straining method. While generally marketed in glass jars, karakovan and honeycomb honeys are packaged in galvanized hygienic tin containers.
Pervari Honey's near-white color distinguishes it from other yellow colored honeys and is an indicator of its natural production process.
Flora and Production Area
Pervari Honey is obtained from the rich flora in the mountain foothills and plateaus of the district. Honey essences collected from flowers and plants such as clover, alfalfa, sage, thyme, motherwort, cornflower, astragalus, viper's bugloss, ox-tongue, vetch, and gundelia are processed by bees to create this unique honey. The region's geographical structure and plant diversity determine the honey's dark consistency and pleasant aroma.
Benefits
Pervari Honey offers numerous health benefits thanks to the A, B, C vitamins and minerals it contains. Its main benefits are:
- Provides energy and strength.
- Contributes to increased mother's milk; supports the development of babies and children.
- Is an appetite stimulant, promotes blood production.
- Helps with respiratory ailments such as coughs, colds, flu, and phlegm.
- Alleviates abdominal and menstrual pains; beautifies the skin, used in burn treatment.
- Shows positive effects in cases of tuberculosis, varicose veins, heart diseases, high blood pressure, liver, stomach, and intestinal disorders.
- Effective in the treatment of rheumatic diseases; reduces allergic problems.
- Cleans teeth and gums, nourishes hair roots providing shine and healthy growth.
- Beneficial in ulcer treatment when consumed on an empty stomach in the morning, one teaspoon.
- Relieves constipation, cleans bladder passages and acts as a diuretic.
- Known for its aphrodisiac effect; cleanses the esophagus in smokers.
Pervari Honey (Siirt Municipality)
Importance and Value
Pervari Honey stands out with its 100% natural composition. The production of Pervari Honey using traditional methods and its lack of additives have ensured it gains significant value in the market. Pervari Honey represents a heritage spanning from the past to the present, serving as both a nutritious food and a versatile source of healing.
