It grows wild in the mountains! As small as a hazelnut, but its price is 150 lira.

17.10.2026 14:22

In the highlands of Aydın, the hawthorn fruit, which grows spontaneously without requiring care and is considered a harbinger of winter, has taken its place in neighborhood markets. Fresh hawthorn, known to be good for the heart, respiratory system, and colds, finds buyers at 150 lira per kilogram despite the difficulty of collecting it.

Aydın's hawthorn fruit, which grows spontaneously in the mountainous areas and is regarded as the harbinger of the winter season in the region, has taken its place on the stalls in neighborhood markets as air temperatures drop.

The hawthorn, which grows spontaneously in nature without needing any care and usually ripens in October, attracts the interest of citizens with its hazelnut-sized structure, sourish taste, and yellow, red, and orange colors. In addition to being consumed fresh, the fresh fruit, which is also used in making marmalade and jam and is known as heart-friendly, finds buyers in markets at 150 liras per kilo.

COLLECTED WITH GREAT EFFORT FROM THORNY TREES

The hawthorns collected from thorny trees in shrub form growing in wooded areas and along valley edges in Dağeymiri Neighborhood of Efeler district are brought to the market after being gathered with great effort from rugged and stony terrain.

"IT IS SAID TO BE A CURE FOR MANY AILMENTS"

Market vendor Muharrem Ay, touching on the harvesting process of the hawthorn fruit and its health benefits, said:

"This fruit, which grows naturally in mountainous areas and is known as the harbinger of winter, attracts great interest from citizens during the period when the effect of cold weather begins to increase. The hawthorn, which is hazelnut-sized, has a seeded structure and a sourish taste, grows in stony and rugged steep terrain, and because its trees are shrubby, it is a fruit that is quite laborious to collect. We sell it for 150 TL per kilo. The hawthorn, which meets its water needs only from rainwater, grows spontaneously in nature, and it is said that this fruit is a cure for many ailments. It is stated to be a source of healing especially for the heart, respiratory system, kidneys, and colds."