A taste that hasn’t changed in 100 years

In the untouched nature of Hamsiköy, located at the foothills of Zigana Mountain on the historical Silk Road route, rice pudding made for 100 years with its unchanged taste attracts the attention of local and foreign tourists. The rice pudding, dating back to the 1920s in Hamsiköy, a district of Trabzon’s Maçka, continues the taste tradition that both local and foreign tourists cannot give up. The milk obtained from animals fed by different flora, combined with rice and sugar to turn into rice pudding, has been attracting Arab tourists visiting the region in recent years with its taste. After being registered by the Turkish Patent Institute in 2017 and receiving a geographical indication certificate, the brand value of Hamsiköy rice pudding has increased even more and started to be recognized abroad. The rice pudding produced fresh daily by manufacturers in Hamsiköy is sent to many provinces in Turkey.
“Some prefer it toasted, some plain”. In Hamsiköy, which is the center of attention with its rice pudding alongside the breathtaking view it offers in all four seasons, Gökhan Yılmaz, a rice pudding manufacturer, pointed out in a research conducted by Taste Atlas, a website known for highlighting traditional recipes, that rice pudding is ranked first among rice-based milk desserts worldwide. Listing the features that distinguish Hamsiköy rice pudding from other rice puddings, Yılmaz said, “It is made entirely from the milk in Hamsiköy. First, we boil the milk in a cauldron. After this boiling process, we add the rice and sugar. It takes about 2 hours to cook. Of course, expertise is also important. The master must know the Hamsiköy rice pudding. Finally, we proceed to the baking process in the oven. Some prefer it plain, some toasted. We can serve it in both ways,” he said. Yılmaz, who mentioned the tricks of Hamsiköy rice pudding, said, “The production process and the creamy nature of the milk distinguish Hamsiköy rice pudding from other rice puddings. In recent years, it has become the center of attention, especially for Arab tourists. The number of these tourists is increasing every year. This year, we are also waiting for our guests.
“The difference in our rice pudding is our milk”. Cemal Usta, a rice pudding manufacturer, noted that there has been an increasing interest in Hamsiköy lately, saying, “There is a recent interest in Hamsiköy rice pudding. We receive very positive comments from our guests. The key point of Hamsiköy rice pudding is that it is natural,” he said. Rice pudding master Ferit Alkurt also stated, “The most important feature of Hamsiköy rice pudding is that it is made naturally and from a thousand flowers. It would not be the same to make rice pudding with milk from other places. It stems from the air and nature of this place.” Rice pudding master Murat Bülbül drew attention to the intense interest in Hamsiköy rice pudding in Turkey, saying, “In a competition held worldwide, rice pudding ranked first. We, as Hamsiköy rice pudding makers, are proud of this. One of the most important features that distinguishes Hamsiköy rice pudding from other rice puddings is that it is made with love. There is a very intense interest from Turkey. We send rice pudding to different cities. Arab tourists love this place very much, both for its nature and our rice pudding, and prefer this place.”