Tunceli Pülümür Underground Spring Salt

Tunceli Pülümür Underground Source Salt is an underground source salt produced in the Pülümür district of Tunceli province. The product is described as a odorless, transparent, cubic-shaped salt extracted from a natural saline deposit and crystallized under sunlight using traditional methods. It was registered as a geographical indication by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office on 21 November 2025.

Geographical Indication and Definition

Registration Details

Tunceli Pülümür Underground Source Salt has been registered as a geographical indication under number 1793 with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office. This geographical indication is exclusive to salt produced within the boundaries of the villages of Göneli, Hiver and Balpayam in the Pülümür district of Tunceli province. The registration process was initiated with an application on 13 November 2024 and completed on 21 November 2025.

Product Definition

The product is known as Tunceli Pülümür Underground Source Salt and is classified as a flavoring or seasoning salt within the salt group. The registration document defines the salt as “an odorless, transparent, cubic-shaped underground source salt.” The geographical boundary lies within the Fırat Basin, surrounded by the Munzur Mountains and Bağırpaşa Mountains.

Production and Characteristics

Geological and Geographical Features

In the designated geographical area, underground waters dissolve salt layers within rock formations. The saline water emerges at the surface through valley streams and crystallizes. The region’s continental climate, characterized by high temperatures and intense sunlight during summer months, facilitates increased salinity concentration and the formation of salt crystals.

Production Process

The saline water emerging at the surface is collected in boreholes drilled to a depth of 8–10 meters. This brine is then transferred to settling ponds where evaporation caused by wind and sunlight leads to salt crystallization. The crystallized salt is traditionally dehydrated, dried and packaged without any additives. The production period generally spans from June to September.

Production Method and Traditional Process

Salt production in Pülümür is based on traditional techniques that have been practiced for centuries. Rock salt carried by underground water is extracted through boreholes and evaporated using solar energy in open ponds; once the water evaporates, the residual salt becomes the final product. No chemical additives are used in this process, and the salt is sold in its natural state.

Pülümür salt production (Anadolu Agency)

Production Area and Economic Dimension

The underground source salt produced naturally in ponds within the Pülümür district of Tunceli serves as an income source for the local population. While this salt is sold on the domestic market, it is also distributed to various provinces across Türkiye.

Production site of Pülümür salt (Anadolu Agency)

Physical and Chemical Properties

The registration document also specifies certain physical and chemical properties of the product. Parameters such as salinity level, electrical conductivity and pH value reflect the salt’s origin from underground source water and its formation through natural evaporation. The document states that the chemical composition of Tunceli Pülümür Underground Source Salt is primarily sodium chloride, with naturally occurring traces of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. The product’s moisture content, solubility and crystal structure are distinctive characteristics determined by the geological structure and climatic conditions of the production area. These physical and chemical attributes are defined as distinguishing features that establish the product’s link to its geographical origin.