In Mardin, where different cultures, languages and religions live together in a tolerant and brotherly way, the product grown in olive trees planted on 300 decares 15 years ago in the garden of the historical Deyrulzafaran Monastery turns into olive oil.
Approximately 15 years ago, a sapling was planted in the garden of Deyrulzafaran Monastery, which is 4 kilometers away from the city center and reached its present form in the 18th century with the additions made at different times starting from the 5th century, with the support of Syriac business people in İstanbul.
In the garden, where many varieties such as halhal, mavi, zoncuk, melkabazi and belloti, which are unique to Mardin are produced, 25 tons of products are harvested this year, and 90 percent of these products are olive oil.
Olive oil obtained by cold pressing was sent to the 13th Natural Extra Virgin Olive Oil Quality Contest organized by the Olive Friendly Association under the brand name “Dzafaran”, named after the monastery.
In the competition which was participated by 100 participants from Turkey, “Dzafaran” got gold medal with its quality.
İshak Bayyiğit, an agricultural engineer working at the Deyrulzafaran Monastery, told Anadolu Agency reporter that the history of olives goes back to ancient times in the region and that olive production and olive oil trade were carried out thousands of years ago.
Bayyiğit, explaining that olives are grown on approximately 300 decares in the historical monastery, stated that the olive yields less a year and yields more other year.
”This year the yield is low. However, we try to tolerate this with the care we do. There was a 20 percent difference between last year’s yield and this year’s yield.” Bayyiğit said that the next year will be a “year of existent”, and stated that this year there is a 25-ton harvest, 90 percent of it is olive oil and the rest are for table.
Stating that they sent the olives they used as oil to Harran University after the harvest, Bayyiğit explained that natural extra virgin olive oil was obtained in the form of cold-pressed at 27 to 28 degrees in machines at the university.
Stating that there are halhal, mavi, zoncuk, melkabazi and belloti varieties unique to Mardin and that each variety has a very important value, Bayyiğit said, “Mardin has a great potential in this sense. It is also in history books that olive cultivation was seriously carried out in the past. We also want to continue this today. With each passing year, the interest in olive oil also increases.”
Great Interest in Gold Awarded Olive Oil
Bayyiğit explaining that the award-winning olive oil, saw intense interest and they send products to almost all regions of Turkey says that, “due to quality criterias we provide completely with the analysis that disclosed bitterness, piquantness and the high level of phenolic components inside, our oil got the award. Many of our customers from abroad demand olive oil too. We plan to send it in a more institutional way in the coming years, ”he said.
Stating that olive and its oil representing prosperity, abundance, peace and purity are mentioned in many Holy Books, Bayyiğit stated that olive cultivation is carried out in the gardens of many monasteries.
Bayyiğit continued as follows:
“Our monastery has an ancient history of 1600 years. With the name of the monastery, olive oil will open an important door for our city, region and country to be introduced to the world. The conversion of olives grown at a thousand altitude here into oil adds very special and important values. Opening up both in the country and in the foreign market with this brand has very important advantages. Considering the ecological advantages of this place, we think that the olive oil that will come out with the Dzafaran brand will play a very important role in the definition of the country.”
Vice Chairman of Deyrulzafaran Monastery Maintenance, Repair and Sustenance Association, Yılmaz Hiçbezmez stated that the best quality olives of the region are grown in these lands.
Stating that they are assertive about olives and olive oil, Hiçbezmez thanked the Syriacs and state officials in İstanbul where they received intense support. (AA)
