07.05.2026 08:14
A herbalist in Samsun, after 3 years of effort, has been offering a spice blend of 29 varieties he perfected to his customers for 29 years. The blend, named 'Ottoman spice', attracts demand from both domestic and international buyers.
With the summer season, barbecue enjoyment, an indispensable part of summer residents and vacationers, has also increased the consumption of spices.
FOUND AFTER 3 YEARS OF EFFORT Citizens who could not find the aroma they wanted in ready-made spices turned to special blends. The spice blend, which was found after 3 years of effort and consists of 29 varieties, is highly demanded by the people of Samsun and foreigners.
"I HAVE BEEN SELLING THE SPICE BLEND OF 29 VARIETIES FOR 29 YEARS" Spice seller Recai Doğanay, stating that he has been selling the spice he created for 29 years, said, "We send Ottoman spice not only to Samsun but also outside the city. It is also used in döner. The Ottoman spice contains a blend of 29 products. There are products like basil, saffron, coriander, basil, curry, Urfa pepper, powdered pepper, mint, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Each has a specific ratio. For example, I add 50 grams of curry, 10 grams of allspice. People should not think that if they mix all these products they can make the same thing. Finding the right consistency took me 3 years because we also had to remove some products. I removed garlic and onion powder from the spice. They mostly use this spice in chicken dishes. They use it frequently in döner, barbecue, oven dishes, and meatballs. It suits almost all oven dishes. It is used in dishes like stuffed eggplant, oven chicken, drumsticks, and potatoes. It is also frequently used in stews and meat dishes. It even goes very well with soup, dry beans, and menemen. It is also enjoyed sprinkled on pilaf or just with olive oil."
"THE PRODUCTS IN THE BLEND ARE KNOWN, BUT NOT EVERYONE CAN GET THE RATIO RIGHT" Doğanay also mentioned that the most crucial point of the blend is the exact amounts of each product, saying, "I give the names of all spices to those who are curious. The key to achieving this consistency is the ratios. I even add some products with half-gram measurements. For example, allspice is added as 9.5 grams. Some spices have a stronger dominance. Saffron is present in very small amounts. I prepare one batch as 4 kilos 800 grams. I make 20 kilos at a time. When there is demand from outside the city, I send large quantities. Those who will use it in döner ask for ground spice. I grind the Ottoman spice and send it; they wrap it around the döner. It is also very popular abroad. We sell the product by gram and kilo. I sell it for 1000 TL per kilo. Also, all the spices in the blend are the ones I offer to customers in the shop. I do not buy any product from outside and add it to this blend."
Citizens who stated that the spice blend is better than ready-made spices said they like the aroma of the blend containing 29 different products.