Alanya Carob: Traditional Product of the Region
Alanya is one of the first regions that come to mind when it comes to carob in Turkey. The region's hot and long summers, warm winters and terra rossa soils offer a suitable environment for the carob tree. This accumulation gained an official identity in 2025; The name "Alanya Carob / Alanya Carob" has been registered as a sign of origin by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office.
In this article, we discuss the prominent features of Alanya carob, the production method defined in the registration certificate, the place of Alanya in Antalya and Turkey production, the producer organization and current projects for the region.
Alanya and Carob
Located on the Mediterranean coast to the east of Antalya, Alanya has a rugged coastline where the Taurus Mountains approach the sea. This geography is more suitable for trees that adapt to slopes, stony and rocky terrains than flat plain agriculture. Carob is one of the typical trees of such lands with its drought resistance and ability to grow in poor soils.
In the geographical indication registration certificate of Alanya Carob, it is stated that the product has been produced in the Alanya district of Antalya province for many years and is important for the agricultural economy of the district; the reputation link between the product and the geographical boundary is based on this historical production tradition (TÜRKPATENT, 2025). In a recent study referring to selection studies conducted in the Mediterranean Region, Alanya and the neighboring district of Gazipaşa are counted among the regions with dense carob populations in Antalya (Balkıç et al., 2024).
Climate and Soil: Conditions That Make Alanya Suitable
The registration certificate explains why Alanya is suitable for carob cultivation with climate and soil characteristics. According to the document:
- Alanya's average annual temperature does not fall below 20 °C; in summer, the temperature can reach up to 35 °C.
- The annual precipitation is around 515 mm and the number of rainy days is 119.7.
- The plant does not prefer mineral-rich soils; terra rossa (red Mediterranean soil), which is common in the region, offers a suitable growing environment.
- The tree's deep root system helps it withstand arid conditions and limited water resources.
The document emphasizes that high temperatures provide an ideal environment for the development and fruit quality of Alanya Carob (TÜRKPATENT, 2025).
Characteristics of Alanya Carob
Alanya Carob in the registration certificate; It is defined as a long, flat and flattened fruit with a brown skin, sweet and slightly aromat. The outer shell is dark brown and the inner part is light brown. The physical and chemical properties in the document are as follows:
| Feature | Value range |
|---|---|
| Fruit weight | 28.8–41.8 g |
| Fruit length | 191–218 mm |
| Fruit width | 23–28 mm |
| Wall thickness | 7.5–11 mm |
| Number of cores | 13–15 pieces |
| Ash | 2.41–2.86 g/100 g |
| Total fixed fat | 0.12–0.25 g/100 g |
| Sucrose | %30,05–32,55 |
| Glucose | %1,96–2,85 |
| Fructose | %1,79–2,53 |
The document states that the product stands out with its high sucrose content (TÜRKPATENT, 2025). These values reflect the description of the product covered by the registration; it does not mean that the fruit of every tree in Alanya falls within these ranges. As a matter of fact, in a study examining wild genotypes collected from Alanya, the average fruit weight was measured as 9.88 grams, the number of seeds was 10.24, and the seed yield was 20.26 percent (Balkıç et al., 2024). This difference also reflects the well-known distinction between grafted culture types and wild trees.
Production Method According to Registration Certificate
The production method of Alanya Carob is defined in stages in the registration certificate. According to the document, production is largely made from natural resources, but indoor garden facilities and seedling cultivation are also possible. The highlights are as follows (TÜRKPATENT, 2025):
| Planting | Grafted saplings are planted in early spring, and in autumn in dry lands; Approximately 40 saplings fall per decare at intervals of 5 × 5 m. |
| Care | Watering is carried out for the first two years after planting; in the first years of development, NPK, trace elements and organic matter are applied. |
| Pruning | When the grafts reach about one meter, the crown is formed and shaped with the tapestry (vase) system. |
| Propagation from seed | The document states that the rather hard and impermeable shell of the seed negatively affects germination; germinated seedlings are grafted with the variety native to the region, grafting is done between the end of November and the end of March. |
| Pest control | It is stated that it is applied against the internal exchange rate twice a year. |
| Harvesting | It is held in September-October. |
| Packaging and storage | 15 kg boxes or 20–25 kg sacks are used; the product is stored at 15–20 °C in a dry environment with a relative humidity of no more than 60 percent, without refrigeration or heating. |
The inspection of the registration is carried out at least once a year by a three-person inspection authority consisting of representatives of the Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alanya Chamber of Agriculture and Alanya District Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry.
Geographical Indication Registration
"Alanya Carob / Alanya Carob" was registered as a mahreç sign on February 26, 2025, with registration number 1705, upon the application of the Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ALTSO) dated April 17, 2024. The geographical boundary of the registration is the Alanya district of Antalya province (TÜRKPATENT, 2025).
The mahreç sign is a type of protection that indicates that the product originates from a specific geographical area and that its characteristics are related to this area. Thanks to the registration, the name "Alanya Carob" cannot be used on products that do not meet the conditions defined in the registration. The document states that the name and the mahreç mark emblem must be used on the product or packaging, and if this is not possible, visibly used in the business.
Documentation of origin is also important for a product such as carob, which is mostly traded as a bulk raw material. In a review comparing the fruits of different producing countries, it is emphasized that the sugar and phenolic compound content may vary according to the origin; however, it is emphasized that these characteristics are lost in the industrial process because the origin and variety of the pods are not recorded during the storage and processing phase (Correia & Pestana, 2024). In this respect, geographical indication is one of the tools that can contribute to the preservation of local identity.
According to the news, ALTSO also applied for a European Union geographical indication for Alanya carob; then made a similar application for Alanya avocado. At the time of writing, no information could be found regarding the outcome of the EU application (Gazete Vatan, 2026a). For the general framework of geographical indications, you can refer to our article titled "Geographical Indications Related to Carob".
Alanya's Place in Antalya and Turkey's Production
Antalya is the largest carob producing province in Turkey. According to the BAKA report based on TURKSTAT data, Antalya produced 13,095 tons in 2022, meeting more than half of Turkey's total (25,106 tons) and being the province with the highest yield with 89 kg per tree (BAKA, 2024). In 2023, Antalya ranked first with 12,581 tons of production (Balkıç et al., 2024).
Official production figures by district could not be accessed for this article; therefore, we do not provide a figure on Alanya's share in Antalya's production. However, the fact that Alanya is the district where the first geographical indication for carob was obtained and is counted among the regions with dense populations shows the weight of the region in this product.
Producer Organization and Current Projects
Carob producers in Alanya are organized under the umbrella of the Alanya Carob Producers Association. The association is a stakeholder in recent projects in the region.
Carob represents Antalya in the Ministry of Industry and Technology's "Those in Anatolia: 81 Provinces 81 Products" project, which highlights a product from each province. The project will be carried out under the coordination of the Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA) and with the partnership of the Alanya Carob Producers Association; as a result of producer visits, current situation and SWOT analyses, and a stakeholder workshop, a roadmap from production to marketing will be prepared. Planned studies include processing and packaging facilities, branding, e-commerce and new product development. ALTSO President Eray Erdem summarized the purpose of the project as "increasing the income of our producers by transforming carob into high value-added products"; Union President Duran Yılmaz stated that as a union, they will fulfill their responsibility for the implementation of the roadmap in the field (Ekonomi Gazetesi, 2026).
Support to expand production areas also continues. Within the scope of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality's support for Alanya Carob producers, 5,000 grafted carob saplings were distributed to 62 producers, and it was stated that approximately 200 acres of land would be brought into agriculture with this support. At the event, it was emphasized that drought-resistant saplings that require less water shorten the time to harvest (Gazete Vatan, 2026b).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alanya Carob geographically indicated?
Yes. "Alanya Carob / Alanya Carob" was registered as a mahreç sign on February 26, 2025, with the number 1705.
When is Alanya carob harvested?
According to the registration certificate, the harvest is done in September-October.
What sets Alanya Carob apart?
In the registration certificate, large and long pods, light brown fruit flesh and high sucrose content are described as prominent features.
Are carob producers organized in Alanya?
Yes, there is an Alanya Carob Producers Association and is involved as a stakeholder in branding projects in the region.
Carob from Alanya with Carob Türkiye
As an Alanya-based company, we know the place of carob in these lands closely. As Carob Türkiye, we supply carob fruit, crumbs, flour/powder, seeds and extracts. For whole fruit Carob Fruit page for our entire product range Our Products You can review the page. For your wholesale and export requests Contact Now You can contact us on our page.
Domestic resources
Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (applicant: Alanya Chamber of Commerce and Industry), "Alanya Carob / Alanya Carob" geographical indication registration certificate, Registration No: 1705, 2025. ci.
turkpatent. gov. en/ Files/ GeographicalSigns/ 7bbe4a8b- 399… Balkıç, R., Polat, İ., Gübbük, H., "Effects of Different Locations on Fruit and Seed Characteristics in Naturally Growing Wild Carob Genotypes in Antalya", Journal of Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, 15(2), 74–80, 2024. doi.
org/ 10. 29048/ makufebed. 1454370 Erbaş, S., "Carob Agriculture and Industry Feasibility Report", Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA), Publication No: 153, 2024. DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY.
gov. en/ assets/ upload/ files/ Keciboy... Economy Newspaper, "Alanya carob will become a brand", 22 July 2026. economy newspaper.
com/ cities/ alanya- Carob- If it were branded... Gazete Vatan (2026a), "Alanya avocado opens up to the world: Official application for European Union Geographical Indication has been submitted!", 21 August 2026. newspapervatan.
com/ gallery/ alanya- avocado- to the world- opening- … Gazete Vatan (2026b), "Huge support for producers in Antalya: Strategic investment made in agriculture", 20 April 2026. newspapervatan.
com/ gallery/ in antalya- to the manufacturer- dev- Support- tar... Foreign sources
Correia, P. J., Pestana, M., "Sugars and phenols in carob tree fruits from different producing countries: A short review", Heliyon, 10, e30922, 2024. doi.
Scientific Resourcesorg/ 10. 1016/ j. helion. 2024. E30922
