A study on the tarhana culture, varieties in the Anatolian soils and sensual characterization of the selected specimens

Tarhana, having an important place among the local soups of Anatolia is basically a fermented food made up of cereal and yogurt. It is produced via traditional methods by the local people everywhere in Anatolia as a preparation for winter in the summer months when the vegetables are plenty and cheap. It is a food, which is rich with respect to protein, vitamin and minerals due to rich foodstuff present in its composition and which is important for all age groups. Because there is no standard production method, its nutrition values vary depending on the amount of the ingredients added. Tarhana, mostly produced and consumed in the framework of home economy and home scale, is produced every region of the geography of our country and shows different sensual characteristics. The ingredients added into the tarhana and production process vary from region to region, neighborhood to neighborhood, traditions, taste and habits of the person. Even though there are similarities in Tarhana production, they have sensual profiles different from each other. Despite they have sensual components very different from each other, all variety is referred as "tarhana". Considering the literature researches, the lack of researches belonging to the sensual profiles of tarhana soups is the starting point of the thesis. In this study, sensual profiles of 8 different specimens, of Beypazarı, Aegea (Manisa and vicinity), Maraş, Tarpaz, Uşak, Bolu Kızılcık, Sıkma (Antep), and Balıkesir tarhanas, were studied in order to define basic characteristics of tarhanas. According to this purpose, a Descriptive Taste Profile Analysis were applied. Furthermore, Basic Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted in order to emphasize and set the statistical importance of the data obtained from LPA results. The three tarhana soups, most liked according to the general like parameter, were selected as Aegea (Manisa and vicinity), Uşak and Kızılcık (Bolu) tarhanas. The sensual results evaluated via PCA were found out as statistically significant.