11.07.2026 09:30
In Hatay, women producing bread and gözleme in a tandoor oven consume 25 liters of water per day while working by the fire despite the 35-degree Celsius heat. In the harsh conditions where the inner temperature of the tandoor reaches 70-80 degrees, they contribute to their family economies.
In Hatay, known for the heat of its air, scorching temperatures continue to take effect. Despite the air temperature reaching 35 degrees Celsius in the Antakya district, working women continue to earn their bread money by producing bread and gözleme by the tandir oven.
Five women living in Kisecik Neighborhood contribute to their family economy by working with the tandir oven. The bread and gözleme, produced by the hands of these women who cope with the scorching heat by consuming liters of water daily, leave a pleasant taste in the mouths of citizens.
WORKPLACE TEMPERATURES REACH 70 DEGREES
Stating that the air temperature doubles near the tandir oven, Şehire Koşar noted that they earn their bread money from the tandir fire, saying, "We make katıklı ekmek, gözleme, white bread—whatever is needed. We start at seven and stay until five. It gets busy around noon and again at about nine in the morning. We have to do it. As they say, bread money, a person can even pull their bread from stone. We pull our bread from the tandir fire. If the outside temperature is 35 degrees, inside the tandir it reaches up to 70; it goes between 60 and 80 degrees. With the sheet metal hanging above us, when it's hot outside, here it reaches 80 degrees. Honestly, I can't get used to it because you never get used to the heat. The hotter it is, the more our eyes burn; I don't know, our eyelashes burn, our hands burn," she said.
THEY CONSUME 25 LITERS OF WATER DAILY
Ceylan Koşar, who says she consumes an average of 25 liters of water daily to endure the scorching heat by the tandir oven, stated, "We make bread in the tandir; it's very hot. I've been doing this since I was 6; my late father showed me—he would knead the dough, and I would stand on a block and start like that. Since I'm used to it, my hands don't burn anymore. So, if it's 40 degrees outside, the tandir can get as hot as 100 degrees. As for daily water consumption, normally you'd drink five liters, but here we consume 25 liters. Especially I drink a lot of water; we feel burning inside. But there's nothing to be done; it's bread money, the kids are waiting at home. No matter who you take, they pull their bread from stone; we pull our bread from fire. Our method, as our friend just said, is the fig tree's shade, coolness, and ice-cold water—water constantly. We can't cool down with anything but water right now," she expressed.