15.12.2025 18:56
The production of tahini, which has a geographical indication and is born from the ashes of a historical mill dating back to the 1850s in the Kumçatı district of Şırnak, has been revitalized with the support of KOSGEB for machinery and entrepreneurship. Tahini prepared using natural methods without electricity or machinery is in high demand from all 81 provinces of Turkey and from Europe.
In the Kumçatı district of Şırnak, a water mill established between 1850-1860 has been restored with the support of KOSGEB, and the production of geographically certified tahini using natural methods has begun.
PRODUCTION CONTINUES WITHOUT BREAKS TO MEET DEMANDS In the traditional stone grinding system powered by water, the facility produces 100% natural tahini without additives, and tahini production is carried out continuously to meet demands from all 81 provinces of Turkey and Europe.
"A MILL FROM THE 1850-1860s" KOSGEB Şırnak Provincial Director Ömer Güngör stated that KOSGEB's strategic support has transformed this traditional heritage into a modern success story, saying, "He showed us the state of this place before it was restored. He said he wanted to reactivate this facility. It is a mill from the 1850-1860s. We talked about whether KOSGEB could provide us with support in this regard. We explained KOSGEB's supports. We informed them that KOSGEB has support in terms of machinery and that our entrepreneurship support program and business development support are suitable models, and that we could provide support if they wanted to make such a facility operational. They rolled up their sleeves and started. Thank God, we are here now with the finalized state."
"THIS PRODUCTION IS NOT TRADITIONAL, IT IS COMPLETELY NATURAL" Güngör highlighted the region's geographically certified sesame and tahini heritage, stating, "In the place we are located, sesame is a geographically certified product, and the tahini produced here is also geographically certified. Additionally, Kumçatı is known for its tahini. Naturally, people will demand such a product both domestically and abroad. As demand increases, we will provide them with the necessary service in production. There are exports abroad, and we see that there is a very high demand domestically. Because we are talking about a product that is untouched and contains no additives from outside. It is an old production management. It is a mill where the water turns the wheels. We are talking about 100% natural tahini made with an old roasting model and an old grinding model. I want to emphasize especially that it is not traditional production, it is completely natural production," he said.
Operator Selahattin Demir noted that they faced difficulties before the restoration, stating, "What we did here was to preserve our culture, keep it alive, and brand it; we completed our restoration. We are sending to all 81 provinces of Turkey. We have demands. There are also requests from Europe. We want people to taste this."
TAHINI PRODUCTION IS CARRIED OUT WITH SESAME PLANTED IN THE REGION'S WETLANDS Demir explained the production process as follows: "Our sesame is grown in our own wetlands. After harvesting, we bring it here. After the cleaning process, we shell it by pounding it on stone, and after roasting it on stone, we grind it again on stone. All stages are carried out traditionally and in accordance with that culture. Our mills work entirely with water. There is no electricity, no machines. KOSGEB supported us. KOSGEB had machinery support for us. KOSGEB supported all of our packaging. We are already producing a geographically certified product. It is the only product in Turkey with this method and origin area. Some places take sesame. But we are producing a product that has received geographical certification with traditional, natural methods."
The facility offers an environmentally friendly model by producing with zero dependency on electricity and machines, using only water power and stone technology.