17.05.2026 18:50
Sait Alkış, who earns a large income from morel mushrooms costing between 1,500 and 1,700 TL per kilogram in Konya Karapınar, collects 150 kg of mushrooms in a day with 4 friends. While other collectors can find at most 10 kg per day, Alkış reaches an average of 40 kg daily. Alkış said, "I collected in 2007. I bought a car and a house. I collected in 2024, I bought land."
Living in Karapinar district of Konya, 43-year-old Sait Alkış, known by the nickname "Dolaman worm," has been collecting truffle-type mushrooms known as dolaman (morel, domalan, keme) for 25 years.
COLLECTS 40 KG PER DAY
Thanks to his experience, Alkış can easily detect dolaman underground. While other collectors can find at most 10 kilograms per day, he visits untouched lands and can reach an average of 40 kilograms daily.
“I BOUGHT A CAR, A HOUSE, AND LAND...”
Sait Alkış, who says he has been collecting dolaman mushrooms for 25 years, stated, "We collect dolaman mushrooms with the arrival of rains. I collected them in 2007. I bought a car and a house. In 2024, I collected them and bought land. This year was good due to rainy weather. We travel to Ankara, Polatlı, Yunak, Kırşehir, Eskişehir, set up camp, and stay for 3-4 days. The four of us collect 150-200 kilograms of dolaman. I personally collect 35-40 kilograms daily. The price varies between 1,500 and 1,700 lira."
"I CAN TELL FROM THE SOIL AND LAND"
Alkış, who uses an iron rod to locate the dolaman, said, "I can tell from the soil and land. Orders come from all over Turkey. We ship them to citizens. It makes delicious borek, grilled kebabs, pan-fried dishes, and many other great meals. It’s a protein-rich, very beneficial mushroom. In areas without people, it can grow to about 1.5 kilograms in size. This year, we started around March 25 and have collected about 2.5 tons so far."