Edible wild fruits

Having lower water content and nutritionally richer than cultivated fruits the wild fruits are indispensable foods not only for wild animals but also for local people.

The Çoruh Valley holds a great richness of wild fruits with regard to variety and biological diversity. With their wide variety of form the wild fruits create unbelievable displays in the region's unique landscape.

In the field researches conducted in İspir and  Uzundere a total of 17 different species have been identified:

1-Raspberry Rubus idaeus

2-Rosehip Rosa spp.

3-Sloe Prunus spp

4-Hawthorn Crateagus spp

5-Sea backturn Hippophae rhamnoides

6-Date plum Diospyros lotus

7-Cornelian cherry Cornus mas

8-Wild pear Pyrus elaegrifolia

9-European barberry Berberis vulgaris

10-Banyan fig Ficus spp

11-Shrubby blackberry Rubus fruticosus

12-Wild cherry Prunus avium

13-Mahleb Prunus mahleb

14-Black mulberry Morus nigra

15-Crabapple Malus spp

16-Pomegranate Punica granatum

17-Quince Cydonia vulgaris

Since the availability of land for cultivation is limited due to the steepness of the land, collecting wild fruits has been more important than fruit growing. The wild fruits collected are consumed fresh or in dried forms or alternatively they, particularly cornelian cherries and black mulberries are used for making syrup and pestils (dried fruit pulp).