Spice is Medicine

Adnan Kalmaz: I inherited this place from my father. The shop has existed for about 60 years. I have been engaged in this business since I was young, during school vacations.

The reason why the Spice Bazaar was restored in the 1940s was to sell spices and cheap food to the public. But then, unfortunately, economic conditions liquidated some business lines. Due to the high rents and the economic conditions, the number of herbalists in Spice Bazaar has decreased a lot, especially recently.

It is not possible for black pepper and cinnamon sold in small units to turn the shop. That's why shopkeepers are turning towards souvenirs, which bring in more income. I can't be angry at anyone for this, everyone has to make a living. But I think this bazaar, which is called the pharmacy of the Ottoman Empire, should also be kept alive. Opened in 1664, this bazaar spent about 250 years selling herbal medicines, coffee and spices to the public. There are two edicts issued for this type of business to be done in this bazaar.

Even though we have customers who have passed down from grandmother to granddaughter, customers who continue the Turkish table culture, and even foreign customers who teach in Turkey, I think one of the reasons for the decrease in the use of spices is young working people. Because working people usually cook practical meals at home and they don't need spices to make them. Or some young people prefer to eat out. I think one of the main reasons for the deterioration of public health is hamburger-type ready-made foods that contain chemicals. Because spice is a natural medicine, it is extremely important to eat cooked food. People who use spices well in their kitchen do not get sick easily. Ready-made fruit juices do not leave the tables anymore. Compote culture has disappeared. Rice pudding, flour halva, molasses, bulgur pilaf... The way to keep Anatolian food culture alive is through spices. Because spices have a very important place in Turkish food culture.

Some spices are preserved in wood, some in glass. Plastic should be avoided as much as possible. For example, cloves do not spoil even if they are kept in wood for years. Wooden boxes should also be preferred for walnuts. Jam, molasses, dried nuts, dried fruits should be kept in glass. Linden-type plants, our grandmothers had cloth bags with drawstrings, they should be stored in them. It will both get air and be protected from insects and dust. In the markets, they put everything in plastic containers. Those foodstuffs are ruined in those plastic materials. Maybe the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs is right, but some things should be sold in the open, at least in the air. Because harmful substances can grow in the packaging. Or the consumption period should be kept very short. For example, chili peppers should be consumed within a month.

Original Article: mimarizm - Baharat İlaçtır (2008-10-08)

Translated By Deepl