12.04.2026 21:05
The season for the wild mushroom known as "göbek" (morel mushroom) has begun in the Akseki district of Antalya. The morel, which grows in the high regions of the Taurus Mountains and is notable for its rarity, continues to be an important source of income for the local people. Fresh morels are being sold for 1,500 lira per kilogram.
The morel mushroom season in Akseki, Antalya, which starts in the first week of April every year, has opened early this year due to the effects of spring rains. If the rainfall continues, the harvest is expected to last until the end of May. The morel mushroom, which grows in humid and high-altitude areas where cedar and fir trees are found, stands out for being more valuable compared to other mushroom species.
"EVERYONE FROM 7 TO 70 IN THE MOUNTAINS"
With the start of the season, the people of Akseki head to the mountains early in the morning. The morel mushroom gathering, which everyone participates in regardless of age, brings life in the district to a standstill. Collectors are reported to find an average of 1 to 5 kilograms of mushrooms per person throughout the day while searching among the rocks and mountains.
"I'VE BEEN COLLECTING FOR 40 YEARS"
Fatma Kara, 52, stated that she has been collecting morel mushrooms for about 40 years and described the excitement of the season with these words: "When the time for this mushroom comes, we go to the mountains early in the morning with my husband and children. We wander around every inch. Sometimes we find 1 kilogram, sometimes 5-6 kilograms. When it first comes out, it was 4,000 lira per kilogram, now it has dropped to 1,500 lira."
"AKSEKI'S MOREL IS MORE DELICIOUS"
Kara expressed that the morel mushrooms grown between 1,000 and 1,800 meters in the Taurus Mountains are meatier and more delicious, stating that there is a significant taste difference between them and the mushrooms grown in coastal areas.
"MOREL MUSHROOMS DON'T GROW EVERYWHERE"
Mehmet Kara, who goes to the mountains every day to collect morel mushrooms, stated that the morel mushrooms started to appear with the beginning of the April rains in the Taurus Mountains, saying, "Morel mushrooms don't grow everywhere. They grow in sunny, snowy areas with cedar and fir trees. Collecting morels is quite a laborious job. We search for morels by wandering around the bases of the trees from morning until evening." It is emphasized that Akseki morels are preferred more due to this characteristic and find buyers at high prices.
"WINTER FOOD IS ALSO BEING PREPARED"
While some of the collected morels are sold to generate income, some are dried and stored for the winter months. The local people enrich their tables by consuming the dried mushrooms, especially in meaty dishes and with chickpeas.
"COLLECTING MORELS IS A PASSION"
Kara stated that collecting morels has become almost a habit for them, saying, "If we sit at home, our minds are always in the mountains. Even if your hands and back hurt, you always want to go to the mountains. Even if we find just one, we rejoice like children. Sometimes we get sad when we can't find any, but we still can't give it up. This job is a bit like a disease." The short but intense morel mushroom season in Akseki continues to be both an economic and cultural value for the local people.
MOREL MUSHROOM
The morel mushroom season in Akseki generally starts in mid-April and continues until the end of May. Spring rains and the bases of cedar/fir trees (especially with soil temperatures of 8-12 degrees) determine the most productive periods. In the Taurus Mountains, this valuable mushroom is intensively collected in the spring months.
Since there are also poisonous species known as false morels in nature, care must be taken during the collection and consumption stages. The Latin name of this mushroom is 'Morchella esculenta'. It is generally found in forested areas, especially after rainy periods, at the bases of trees and in burned areas during the spring months.
There are about 40 varieties of morel mushrooms in the world. In Turkey, 10 to 15 species grow naturally. They are collected starting from the Taurus Mountains through the Mediterranean, Aegean, Black Sea, and Eastern Anatolia forests. It is a type of mushroom that is widely recognized, consumed, sold in markets, and is rare, especially in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions.