Examination of geographically indicated gastronomic products in Turkey within the scope of content analysis

A geographical indication is a mark that identifies products associated with a specific geographical area due to their particular qualities or reputation. In other words, geographical indications can be defined as symbols that reflect the characteristic features of a product's cultural, traditional, and human resources linked to its region of production. The aim of this study is to conduct a detailed analysis of the geographically indicated gastronomic products registered in Turkey until February 2025 and to examine how these products are distributed within specific themes. The research is based on data from the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office, as well as reports published by local development agencies, municipalities, and chambers of commerce. A total of 1,697 geographically indicated products were examined, and a qualitative content analysis was applied to 1,385 of them using the MAXQDA 24 software. The analysis revealed that the most frequently registered categories of geographically indicated gastronomic products include soups and dishes, processed/unprocessed fruits, vegetables and mushrooms, as well as bakery and pastry products. The study also found that the most common baking method for geographically indicated bakery and pastry products is stone oven baking, while traditional techniques such as tandır (clay oven) and sac (griddle) cooking are still preferred. Among geographically indicated pastries, the most commonly used main ingredient is ground beef (31%), highlighting the significance of red meat in Turkish cuisine. Additionally, in geographically indicated desserts, walnuts (24%) are the most widely used ingredient, followed by tahini, cow's milk, and grape molasses, which contribute significantly to dessert variety. In the case of geographically indicated cheeses, cow's milk is the predominant ingredient, while sheep, goat, and buffalo milk also add to regional diversity. Furthermore, an increase in geographical indication registrations has been observed since 2020, with public institutions playing a crucial role in this process. In this regard, the active involvement of municipalities and chambers of commerce should be maintained, but the participation of non-governmental organizations and private enterprises should also be encouraged to enhance their role in geographical indication applications.