Gümüşhane Mulberry Pestili

Geographical Indication: Gümüşhane Mulberry Pestili

Registration No: 63

Product Description and Distinctive Features: Gümüşhane pestil has a brighter and softer structure than pestils produced in other regions. Unlike pestils produced in other regions, honey and milk are added to its content, and walnuts and hazelnuts used in flavored pestils produced in other regions are added in much larger amounts. To obtain 100 kg of Gümüşhane pestil, at least 20 kg of honey, at least 15 kg of milk, at least 20 kg of walnuts or hazelnuts are used. Milk and mulberries are obtained from this region. Mulberries obtained from the rich flora of the region and the skills of pestil masters are an important factor in the production and quality of Gümüşhane pestil.

Mulberries, honey, walnuts or hazelnuts, flour, milk are used in the production of pestil. The production of pestil begins by washing the mulberries. Since the production is made from dried mulberries, the mulberries must be washed. The washed mulberries are boiled in a cauldron. Then the must is filtered. Some of the filtered must is separated to be whipped with flour, the remaining must is put into the herle cauldron and heated with honey and sugar. After it starts to boil, the separated must and the flour whipped with milk are poured into the cauldron and after cooking for a while, the herle is ready. After this stage, the herle is laid on the cloths opened on the grills. Hazelnuts or walnuts are added to the herle during the laying stage. After the spreading, the fruit pulp is left to dry. The drying process is carried out in a hygienic environment. After the drying is completed, the cloth with the fruit pulp is turned upside down. The unlaid surface of the cloth is wetted with water. Then the fruit pulp is peeled off the cloth and separated, then the folded fruit pulp is packaged.