Dried fruit is 5 times more expensive than fresh.

The fresh madımak plant, which is as laborious to dry as it is to harvest, is sold for 100 lira, while its dried version finds buyers at 500 lira.

The madımak plant, which is among the traditional flavors of Sivas, is consumed fresh during the summer months and adorns tables with its dried form in the winter months. In the summer, madımak, which grows in nature around Sivas and is patiently collected, is in great demand, especially in its dried form during the winter months. This plant, which is collected one by one by women in the villages, is harvested in May and dried throughout the summer to be consumed all year round. Fresh madımak is sold at 100 lira per kilogram in the summer, and when dried, its price almost increases fivefold, reaching 500 lira. The madımak plant is known for its protective properties against cancer and heart diseases due to its antioxidants. Prominent for its health benefits, madımak is among the indispensable flavors of Sivas cuisine, and many dishes are made from it by the people. Approximately 1 kilogram of dried madımak is obtained from 5 kilograms of fresh madımak. The madımak, which is as difficult to dry as it is to harvest, is preferred more by expatriates than by the local people of Sivas.

“Our expatriate citizens buy dried madımak before they leave”
Yusuf Kurt stated that expatriate citizens generally buy their dried madımak before they go to the countries they live in, saying, “Madımaks are usually brought by villagers, and we buy from the villagers. The price is about 500 lira. Madımak is essential to Sivas. It is collected in summer and consumed in winter after being dried. Our expatriate citizens generally buy it because they cannot find it where they live, so they buy it here before they leave. Madımak is a must-have for Sivas.”

“1 kilogram of dried madımak is obtained from 5 kilograms of fresh madımak”
Kurt noted that when dried, 1 kilogram of dried madımak is obtained from 5 kilograms of fresh madımak, saying, “Madımak is collected one by one in the summer, laid out in a dry environment, and after drying, it is collected and sifted with a sieve. It is generally a source of livelihood for our villagers, as they sell the madımak they collect here to contribute to their households. When dried and cleaned, only the leaf part remains, thus reducing from 5 kilograms to 1 kilogram. If the price of fresh madımak is 100 lira, the average price of dried madımak is 500 lira.”

“My neighbors in Istanbul also want dried madımak”
Hakan Erdoğan indicated that his neighbors in Istanbul like madımak and ask him for it, saying, “We buy it fresh in the summer and consume it fresh, and in the winter, we buy the dried one for winter use. Dried madımak is very delicious in winter, especially during Ramadan. We continuously love and consume this local flavor of Sivas. We make its soup and its yogurt dish. We enjoy it with our family and children and serve it to our neighbors. My neighbors from Istanbul also want it, and I will buy it for them before I leave. I came here to buy it upon my wife’s recommendation; if it is meant to be, we will take it from here.”