An ethnobotanical study on the axis of market, state and tradition: The example of Gezo

In this study, the usage value and cultural importance of the sweet sap/must, which is called gezo in the local language in the Southeastern Anatolia and Eastern Anatolia regions and is caused by a plant worm that occurs on oak trees every 5-10 years. It has been tried to be discussed from the perspective of anthropology and ethnobotanical sciences. In the provinces of Bitlis, Bingöl, Muş, Tunceli, Mardin and Şırnak, where the field work was carried out, thissweet sup/must is collected and processed through various processes and turns into molasses, mold or honey. İs given great importance and value in the places where it is made. Plants that are normally easily obtained, accessible in all seasons, close to settlements, and versatile in terms of use are valuable nutrients for the community. The situation is different with Gezo; although it can be easily obtained (when it forms),converting it into proper food is a time-consuming process. It is not a product that is available in all seasons, and moreover, it is not a product that can be accessed every year. It is mostly not close to settlements. However, its versatility makes it a valuable food that can be demanded, even though it is rare. In this case, is the versatility feature enough for a product to be transferred in social memory, tradition and culture? Within the framework of these data, an evaluation was made based on the results obtained from the field study. As a result of the field interviews, it has been shown that each of the production, distribution and consumption stages of a traditional product will have a place in social memory, rituals, oral tradition and daily life as long as it is sustainable and functional. Based on the unique methods of anthropology and some hypotheses and indices used in ethnobotany, the usage value of the 'gezo' was calculated and its cultural context was tried to be analyzed. At the end of this study, it was seen that the 'gezo' was shared on social networks due to its medical, economic, religious, social and cultural qualities. Keywords: Gezo, use value, cultural importance, social network, tradition, transmission, anthropology, ethnobotany