Kars and Ardahan in Ankara’s Taste Festival

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – Kars and Ardahan locate in the northern part of Kurdistan, both cities have a very long history and are famous for having archeological building, a place for makinf your holiday in, variety of landmarks, and particular traditional dishes from natural ingredients.

To bring cultural differences close together and building bridges between communities, the Taste Festival could be a very good opportunity to achieve that. 

This annual festival, was arranged in Ankara this year, where products from Kars and Ardahan showcased. Such outdoor activities are well-known in Ankara. Every year, people participate with their products.

With the multicultural and variable activities, local residents and people get familiarized with the lifestyle and culture from other cities. 

The participants had the chance to showcase their products as well as introduced to the locals in Ankara, furthermore, to encourage the local economic backbone for small businesses.

Making Kurdish cheese was a main focal point in the festival, the way it is traditionally made in the mountain areas in the north of Kurdistan, has its own taste.

Kurdistan24 interviewed the participants, passer-by, buyers, they were glad and enjoying the whole atmosphere. One of the participants, Dunia Yelmaz, a confectionary maker participated in the festival with their hand-made cookies and biscuits, said “our cookies are very tasty and healthy because we do not add sugar and we make them in front of the buyers, as well as diabetic people can have them”

“People usually go to Agri’s series of mountains for making cheese from animal milk, then it would be kept in a bowl-like which is made from animal skins” Another participant, Ibrahim Qapi Siez, in the festival stated “it is stored in caves for six to seven months, that is how cheese is made” he further added “this cheese increases body immunity and is very beneficial” 

A purchaser, Muharemzad said “the prices are very good. I like the products of the other cities. I bought butter, here, for 300 TL, yet it is 500 TL outside this festival”

“I have been doing this for four to five years. I am a retailer; the sale is good. I am from Arzrum, I well cook these dishes. I make around 1500 TL per day, with the money I go on holiday and excursion”