Unique to Bodrum

BODRUM MANDARIN SODA & DELIGHT

Bodrum Chamber of Commerce initiated a project in 2006 to prevent tangerine orchards from succumbing to construction, to revitalize the tangerine production, which adds vitality to Bodrum’s economy, and to ensure the production of products that create added value. Within the scope of this project, by establishing the Bodrum District Citrus Producer Association, it was requested that they meet with the garden owners in the towns and become a member of the association and support our project.

In 2007, works were started for a closed facility, and in 2010, the Citrus Grading and Packaging Facility with a closed area of 1150 m2 was opened in Ortakent. A grading and packaging machine with units with a citrus processing capacity of 7.5 tons in 1 hour was installed in the facility to be used for the sale of citrus fruit for table use in the domestic and foreign markets.

In 2007, the first value-added product was obtained by producing Bodrum Mandarin Soda, plain and with tangerine, followed by jam, Turkish delight and cologne produced from Bodrum tangerines.

In order to support this project, the people of Bodrum have started to produce original products from tangerines by protecting them. New works have taken their places on the shelves, including chocolate, food, stuffed, jams and dried products.

Our Bodrum Mandarin Soda was registered by TPI and in 2009, Geographical Indication Registration was made by TPI.

It is possible to buy Bodrum Tangerine Soda from the websites of Bodrum Municipality facilities . It is possible to buy Bodrum tangerines , tangerine delight , jams and colognes from sales points and websites .

BODRUM SANDALS

The first known example of sandals dates back to BC. It is a model knitted from papyrus stems in 2000. Bodrum sandals are natural and handcrafted. However, the process of transforming leather into sandals is the secret of most craftsmen…

Ali Güven, who introduced Bodrum sandals to the world, explained the feature of the famous sandals shortly before he passed away: “We make sandals from calf leather. The leather comes from Muğla unprocessed and untouched by machinery. The best part is reserved, the rest is thrown away. The separated skin is kept in water with acorn and pine bark for a year and trained. Therefore, it does not make the feet sweat, does not cause odor and fungus. The mold comes out according to the customer’s foot size. One foot is not the same size as the other. I would smooth the edges of the sandals with glass. Thin 2-millimeter glasses used to come from old houses. These glasses were sharp. That is, I did not use knives, scissors or machines. All stages are completely natural. Because I promised myself that I would do this work with my hand in the best way possible. That’s what happened. That’s why my sandals last 15 years”

The sandals specially produced by Ertekin Altınbilek, who has been making sandals in Bodrum for 35 years, under the name of ‘Golden Sandals’, were awarded the ‘Oscar Award’ in the Handicraft category by the Life Touching Platform.

Do not come to Bodrum and come back from Bar Street without buying sandals from local businesses.

BODRUM KILIMS

It is estimated that the first examples of weaving in Muğla, which stands out as one of the most important centers of hand-woven products in the Aegean region, emerged in the 16th century. It is known that the nomadic and Turkmen tribes living in this region are weaving carpets and rugs for their own use in order to utilize the wool of the sheep they own. Milas Carpet and Bodrum Rug are the best known examples of weaving.

The yarns of the carpets and kilims woven in the region were obtained from sheep’s wool by completely natural methods and all shades of red and yellow were used as the dominant colors. The coloring of the wool used in weaving is obtained by boiling various plant leaves and extracts in nature after some processes and boiling in water. In this way, the process of giving color to the wool is called the root dye method. Due to the nature of root dye, the colors mature and become more beautiful over the years. The motifs and patterns woven with these threads were used as a means of nonverbal communication. It is rumored that it is a tool for people who weave carpets or rugs to reflect their feelings and thoughts. It is known that root dyed wool rugs have a lifespan of at least 100 years as long as they are properly cared for. Rugs and carpets made of wool are also known to act as a natural air filter for allergens such as dust and pollen. This unique breathability feature, which keeps it warmer and drier in winter and cool and dry in summer, also contributes to energy savings in our spaces.

Although rare, hand weaving activities are still carried out in some villages such as Karacahisar, Ören, Çökertme and Bozalan in Milas, and Yeniköy, Mazı, Yalıçiftlik, Pınarlıbelen, Etrim and Çömlekçi in the Karaova region of Bodrum, which keep this tradition alive today.

You can buy Bodrum Kilims from local businesses during your visits to these villages or in Bodrum Center.

BODRUM SPONGE

The first place that comes to mind when talking about sponge is Bodrum. However, sponge making is a very difficult profession that is slowly disappearing. Sponges are collected after months of work. This adventure, which started in May, drags sponge divers to Antalya. Generally, there are 5 divers from 8-10 meter boats. Diving in turn, the divers dive twice a day and stay in the water for 1 hour. Sponges encountered in rocky and mossy areas gather at a depth of 5 to 75 meters. The collected sponges are sent to Bodrum every month and processed. Sponges are dried in the sun, squeezed and left in sea water.

Sponge making goes back at least three thousand years in the Aegean region. According to the available data, Homer, the famous poet of the ancient Aegean, was the first to mention the sponge. It is also known that the Greek Aristotle, the famous thinker and scientist of the ancient Aegean, also made extensive studies on sponges. In his discussions about sponges, his saying that the best sponges come from deep waters is accepted as proof of the existence of sponge fishing at that time. Therefore, it can be said that the history of sponge fishing goes back to antiquity and even to the Bronze Age.

The sea sponge has a useful life of 10-15 years. Due to its hard and perforated structure, it can be easily used in household and skin cleaning. It removes dead cells and bacteria from the skin. Eliminates acne and pimples. It is said to take static energy from the body as well. It is the most natural product that can be used in baby cleaning.

It is possible to encounter many sponge sellers and local businesses around Bodrum Harbor, Bodrum Marina road and Bodrum Castle.

Bodrum Limanı , Bodrum Marina yolu ve Bodrum Kalesi çevresinde pek çok sünger satıcısı yerel işletme ile karşılaşmanız mümkün …

SEA SHELL

Since Turkey is a country surrounded by seas on three sides, we have very different sea and land shells. There are over 900 seashell species from Turkey in the literature. There are even shells starting at 1 millimeter inside these species.

There are rare seashells inside the shells found in the Bodrum Maritime Museum, the world’s largest sea museum. The 460 million year old seashell fossil is one of the most important parts of this collection , which consists of approximately 7 thousand seashells belonging to around 130 families .

It is possible to find sea shells, dried crabs, shark jaws, dried fish from the Aegean Sea and seas around the world in many local businesses, starting from Bodrum Castle in Bodrum bazaar, from bars street to Bodrum cruise port.

You should definitely visit these cute corner shops where starfish and seashells turn into eye-catching decorative objects.