Türkiye: Pistachio Paste Receives Protected Designation of Origin Status in EU
On June 25, 2025, a protected geographical indication for Antep Fıstık Ezmesi / Antepfıstığı Ezmesi / Gaziantep Fıstık Ezmesi was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. As noted in the application for registration, this type of processed pistachio paste is crafted by combining early-harvested pistachios with precise proportions of water and beet sugar. After blending and boiling the ingredients, the mixture is kneaded into a dough, rolled out to a 3-4 cm thickness, and sliced. The unique characteristic of the geographical indication mandates that producers within the defined geographical area —Gaziantep province— use the early-harvested form of pistachios, known as boziç, in their production. Therefore, the selection of pistachios to be used in the production of Antep Fıstık Ezmesi / Antepfıstığı Ezmesi / Gaziantep Fıstık Ezmesi is the most critical point in the production process.