On Turkey's Mediterranean coast, the city of Mersin is known not only for its orange groves and the sea, but also for a sweet with a long local tradition: cezerye. Made from carrots, sugar and generous amounts of nuts, this traditional treat was registered as a geographical indication by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office in 2008, making it an official part of Mersin's culinary heritage. In this article you will find everything you want to know about cezerye, from its history and varieties to how it is made and how to store it.

What Is Cezerye and Where Does the Name Come From?

Cezerye takes its name from the Arabic word "cezer", which means "carrot". As the name suggests, carrot is the main ingredient. Fresh yellow carrots are grated and slowly cooked with sugar until they turn into a thick, dense paste. The paste is then enriched with walnuts, hazelnuts or pistachios and cut into slices.

History and Geographical Indication

Cezerye is a long-established Mediterranean sweet that has been made in and around Mersin for generations. High-quality local carrots and a rich variety of nuts helped it develop as a flavour unique to Mersin. Registered in 2008 by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, its geographical indication status ensures that only cezerye made in Mersin with the defined production method can carry the name "Mersin Cezeryesi".

How Is Cezerye Made?

Traditional cezerye production follows a few simple steps:

• Preparing the carrots: Fresh yellow carrots are washed and grated.
• Cooking: The grated carrots are cooked with sugar for a long time until a thick paste forms.
• Adding nuts: Walnuts, hazelnuts or pistachios are mixed into the paste or sprinkled on top.
• Shaping: The paste is shaped and cut into its final form: thin leaves, thick cubes or bite-sized pieces.
• Packaging: Freshly cut cezerye is packed in airtight packaging to keep it fresh.

Types of Cezerye: Which One Should You Choose?

At Özcanlar Kuruyemiş you can find four different forms of cezerye, each offering a different experience:

• Leaf Cezerye (Yaprak): Cut into thin slices with a light, soft texture.
• Cube Cezerye (Küp): A thicker cut with a richer, more intense bite.
• Atom Cezerye: A bite-sized, practical form.
• Bucket Cezerye (Kova): Set in a bucket-shaped mould, then cut to order leaf by leaf with a serrated knife, just döner.

You can also choose by nut: pistachio, walnut, hazelnut, or cocktail cezerye, which combines all three.

What Is in Cezerye?

Cezerye is made with a short list of ingredients: carrot, sugar and nuts. Özcanlar cezeryes contain no additives and no gluten.

How to Store and Enjoy Cezerye

To enjoy cezerye at its freshest, keep it in airtight packaging in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. Serve it alongside Turkish tea or coffee, enjoy it as a snack, or offer it to guests as a traditional treat.

Where to Buy Original Mersin Cezerye

At Özcanlar Kuruyemiş, we produce cezerye fresh every day at our facilities in Mersin and deliver it to your door. Browse all our cezerye varieties in leaf, cube, atom and bucket forms, with pistachio, walnut, hazelnut and cocktail options. Orders over 1,000 TL qualify for free shipping.