10.10.2026 10:40
In Artvin, the price per kilogram of pine gum collected one by one from fir trees reaches 10 thousand lira. The product, consumed by mixing it with honey in the region, attracts interest from citizens who say it relieves stomach complaints.
In Artvin, the price per kilogram of pine gum collected one by one from fir trees with the help of a pocket knife has reached 10,000 lira. The product, whose collection is laborious and risky, attracts interest from citizens who maintain traditional usage habits.
The pine gum, generally collected by villagers and shepherds in August and September, requires skill to obtain. Citizens climbing trees that reach a height of 15-20 meters collect the gum one by one with the help of a pocket knife. The fact that the collection process is laborious and risky is among the reasons that increase the product's price.
Known in the region as "fir gum," the product is traditionally consumed by some citizens after being ground into powder and mixed with honey. Sellers state that especially citizens over the age of 50 show interest in the product.
"ONE OF THE REASONS FOR ITS HIGH PRICE IS THE EFFORT OF COLLECTING" Erkan Büyük, who has been running a family delicatessen business for 27 years, said that pine gum is one of the traditional products carried from the past to the present in Artvin.
Büyük said, "It is known as fir gum; it is found on the fir tree. It is collected one by one from trees in high-altitude areas. Collecting it is a laborious and difficult job. Since people climb trees in forested areas, there is also risk. The fact that it requires a lot of labor is one of the reasons its price is high. Its price per kilogram ranges between 7,500 and 10,000 lira. Generally, people over 50 show more interest in such products. The younger generation also uses it, but our elders prefer it more. Some citizens with stomach problems take aged pine gum and mix it with honey. They say that by consuming it in the morning on an empty stomach or in the evening before going to bed, their ailments are alleviated. This is one of the traditions that older people have carried to the present day. We ship this product to many provinces of Turkey. Some want it as a mixture; others buy the pine gum or honey separately and make the mixture themselves." he said.
IT IS COLLECTED FROM 15-20 METER-TALL TREES Selahattin Arslan, a seller of herbalist products, also stated that collecting pine gum is difficult and said, "The pine gum business is a rather difficult job. It is found on trees. There are trees whose heights reach 15-20 meters. These trees are climbed, and the gum is collected one by one with the help of a pocket knife."