Carob in Anamur and Mersin
Mersin is one of the most dominant provinces on Turkey's carob map, along with Antalya. According to sources based on TURKSTAT data, the province ranked second in Turkey with a production of 8,776 tons in 2022. The coastline stretching from Anamur and Bozyazı in the west to Silifke and Erdemli in the east is considered among the regions with dense carob populations.
In this article, we discuss the place of Mersin in carob production, the prominent regions according to the districts, the research studies in the region, and the relationship between carob and traditional products such as molasses and honey, together with their sources.
Mersin's Place in Carob Production
Mersin has a narrow and long coastline in the eastern part of the Mediterranean, stretching between the Taurus Mountains and the sea. Along this coast, maquis slopes, rocky terrain and hot, dry summers overlap with the natural habitat of the carob tree.
According to the Western Mediterranean Development Agency's (BAKA) 2024 report based on TURKSTAT data, Mersin produced 8,776 tons of carob in a registered area of 4,563 decares in 2022, making it the second largest producing province after Antalya. In the same year, the average yield per tree in the province was recorded as 61 kg; this value is higher than the Turkish average (51.8 kg) (BAKA, 2024). The report states that Adana, Antalya, and Mersin together account for approximately 93 percent of the total carob area in Turkey.
| Indicator (2022) | Mersin | Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Production (tons) | 8.776 | 25.106 |
| Registered area (decare) | 4.563 | 16.980 |
| Yield per tree (kg) | 61 | 51.8 (average) |
Source: BAKA (2024), based on TurkStat data.
According to these data, Mersin met more than a third (approximately 35 percent) of Turkey's production in 2022.
Historically, the Weight of Mersin
The importance of Mersin in carob is not new. In the carob article of the Küre Encyclopedia, based on a study prepared at Marmara University (Günal, 2022), it is stated that there were 354,600 carob trees in Turkey in 1996, 93.6 percent of which were in the Mediterranean Region, 54 percent in Mersin and 35.8 percent in Antalya; it is stated that 62.7 percent of the annual production is met from Mersin (Küre Encyclopedia). Since these figures are quoted from a secondary source, they should be considered as an approximate historical table.
Compared to today's table, it is seen that Mersin was the center of gravity of production in the 1990s, and Antalya has taken the lead in terms of production and yield in recent years. Mersin, on the other hand, maintains its strong position.
Anamur and Bozyazı: Carob on the West Coast
Anamur and Bozyazı, located at the western end of Mersin, close to the Antalya border, are among the regions where carob is concentrated. In a recent study referring to a comprehensive carob selection project conducted in the Mediterranean Region (Pekmezci et al., 2004), the regions with dense populations in Mersin are listed as Silifke, Erdemli, Anamur, and Bozyazı (Balkıç et al., 2024).
This coastline is geographically a continuation of the Alanya-Gazipaşa line. In these regions where the mountains descend steeply to the sea and the flat land suitable for agriculture is limited, carob; It is one of the trees that finds its place on slopes, stony lands and natural vegetation. Studies conducted in Turkey show that wild types are more common in natural environments, while types cultured by grafting produce heavier and fleshier pods (Gubbuk et al., 2010; Balkıç et al., 2024). In a study classifying carob types in Turkey, it was reported that succulent and wild types are dominant in the Mediterranean Region (Çetinay et al., 2014).
Current production figures at the district level could not be accessed for this article; therefore, we do not give a figure on the share of Anamur and Bozyazı in Mersin production.
Silifke and Erdemli: East Coast and Research Center
Silifke and Erdemli in the eastern part of Mersin are also among the regions with high carob populations (Balkıç et al., 2024). Erdemli is also home to the Alata Horticultural Research Institute, which is affiliated with the General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
According to news reports regarding an evaluation meeting held at the institute in January 2025, it was reported that the registration of a carob variety was continuing in the program where tangerine and banana varieties were registered (Gazete Vatan, 2025a). Alata Institute was also among the institutions that supported the carob workshop held in Antalya in 2023 (Politika Gazetesi, 2023). Among the recommendations of this workshop are the establishment of carob gene pools in the Eastern Mediterranean, Western Mediterranean, and Aegean regions and the registration of more varieties.
Selecting and registering local types is important for the spread of productive and high-quality sapling material compatible with the region. Preserving local types also contributes to the maintenance of genetic diversity.
Carob Molasses and Processing
One of the most well-known processed forms of carob in Turkey is molasses. Carob molasses is produced by extracting the fruit's water-soluble sugars and condensing the resulting liquid. There is a Turkish Standard for carob molasses in Turkey, numbered TS 13717, and the criteria of this standard are included in the BAKA report; the report also discusses the stages of molasses production using the traditional method (BAKA, 2024).
In addition to molasses, carob fruit is broken and separated into kernel and pulp; pulp is directed to products such as flour, powder and crushing, and the kernel is directed to the gum industry. In the product table in the BAKA report, feed, food, sugar and molasses can be obtained from pulp; carob gum (E410) can be obtained from the endosperm of the kernel, germ flour from the embryo, and tannin from the shell (BAKA, 2024).
For detailed information on how carob molasses is produced What is Carob Molasses and How is it Made? You can review our article.
Carob and Beekeeping
The autumn flowering of carob is also valuable for beekeepers in the region. In the workshop report in Antalya, it was stated that carob blooms when other fruit trees do not bloom and it was recommended to encourage beekeeping (Politika Gazetesi, 2023).
A concrete example of this in Mersin comes from Silifke. According to a news report dated November 2025, beekeepers who placed their hives among carob trees in the Kabasakal District of Silifke harvested the first carob honey; it was reported that the product will be delivered to domestic and international consumers after quality control (Gazete Vatan, 2025b). For more information about carob honey What is Carob Honey? You can take a look at our article.
The Future of Mersin Carob
Carob in Mersin is a promising product with both the richness of natural populations and its research infrastructure. The prominent development areas in the sources can be summarized as follows:
- Grafting wild trees and transforming them into productive culture types
- Increasing indoor garden facilities
- Selection of local types and variety registration
- Development of value-added products such as molasses, powder and gum instead of raw fruit
- Evaluation of the relationship between carob and beekeeping
Some technical warnings in the BAKA report are also important for Mersin producers who are considering establishing a new garden. The report states that adult carob trees can be damaged by frosts below −4 °C, rainfall during flowering and high humidity in spring can reduce fruit set, irrigation is recommended in places where annual rainfall is below 400 mm, and 6–8 years can be waited for the first crop in marginal areas (BAKA, 2024). In Mersin, where climatic conditions can vary over short distances between the coast and the interior, site selection is therefore the first condition for garden success.
At the Antalya workshop, Prof. Dr. Hamide Gübbük's call for exporting value-added products instead of raw fruits or seeds points to a valid target for Mersin as well (Politika Gazetesi, 2023).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much carob is produced in Mersin?
According to the BAKA report based on TURKSTAT data, Mersin produced 8,776 tons of carob in 2022.
Where does carob grow the most in Mersin?
In the sources, Silifke, Erdemli, Anamur and Bozyazı are counted as regions with dense populations.
Is there any research on carob in Mersin?
Yes. It has been reported that the registration of a carob variety is continuing at the Alata Horticultural Research Institute in Erdemli.
Is there a standard for carob molasses?
Yes, there is a Turkish Standard for carob molasses in Turkey, numbered TS 13717.
Mediterranean Carob with Carob Türkiye
The Mediterranean coast, stretching from Mersin to Alanya, is the heart of Turkey's carob. At Carob Türkiye, we supply carob fruit, crumbs, flour/powder, seeds, and extracts. Carob Fruit, Carob Extract and for our other products Our Products You can review the page. For your wholesale and export requests Contact Now You can contact us on our page.
Domestic resources
Erbaş, S., "Carob Agriculture and Industry Feasibility Report", Western Mediterranean Development Agency (BAKA), Publication No: 153, 2024 (Provincial tables based on TurkStat data). DEVELOPMENT LIBRARY.
gov. en/ assets/ upload/ files/ Keciboy... 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 Çetinay, Ş., Güler, S., Coşgun, S., Şahin, M., Güngöroğlu, C., "Natural and Grafted Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) Comparison of Trees in Terms of Fruit and Seed Characteristics (Köprülü Canyon National Park Example)", Journal of Süleyman Demirel University Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences, 17(1), 64–69, 2014. dergipark.
org. en/ en/ pub/ sdufenbed/ article/ 222049 Küre Encyclopedia, "Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)" article (Günal, N., "Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.)' based on the Geographical Distribution, Ecological and Floristic Characteristics of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) in Turkey", Marmara University, 2022). kureencyclopedia.
com/ en/ detail/ Carob- ceratonia- siliqu... Gazete Vatan / İHA (2025a), "As of today, it has entered the literature! 6 new varieties registered in Mersin", 17 January 2025. newspapervatan.
com/ agenda/ today- As of- literature- input- … Gazete Vatan / AA (2025b), "The first harvest was made in Mersin! The benefits do not end with counting! Orders are pouring in from Turkey and abroad", 11 November 2025. newspapervatan.
com/ gallery/ in mersin- first- harvest- done- with benefit... Politika Newspaper, "Another benefit of carob has emerged!" (Antalya carob workshop news), 7 August 2023. my policy.
com/ carob- one- BENEFIT- more- revealed- output Foreign sources
Gubbuk, H., Kafkas, E., Güven, D., Güneş, E., "Physical and phytochemical profile of wild and domesticated carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) genotypes", Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, 8(4), 1129–1136, 2010. doi.
Scientific Resourcesorg/ 10. 5424/ sjar/ 2010084- 1209
