In Adana, citizens are cooling off by eating prickly pears.

In Adana, citizens who are overwhelmed by the heat cool off with prickly pears sold for 15 lira each among ice cubes on mobile stalls.

Prickly pears, naturally grown in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of our country, especially along the coastal strip, attract great attention in Adana during the summer months. Believed to increase body resistance and stimulate the digestive system, prickly pears, known by different local names such as cactus fig, Barbary fig, and Indian fig depending on the region where they grow, are sold for 15 TL each in Adana.

Organic prickly pears, cleaned of their prickly skin layer, are sold by cooling among ice cubes on mobile stalls and are consumed with great pleasure by individuals trying to cool off in the city dominated by hot weather.

“Sold for 15 lira each”

Mesut Yılmaz, who has been selling prickly pears for about 35 years, stated, “We started the season with 20 TL. Currently, we are selling them for 15 TL each. This is the only fruit that is hormone-free. It is natural, good for kidney stones, good for the heart and eyes. It is a beneficial fruit specific to Adana. We cool people down with cold prickly pears in hot weather. Those who crave it come. Unfortunately, Adana is always hot. We cool people down in the summer season. It is very beneficial and very refreshing. We serve it cold.”

Ömer Yeniay, emphasizing the importance of prickly pears to cool off in the heat, said, “I just ate it. It was very good. This is the best thing for a person in Adana’s heat. It cools you down inside. It feels good. It is necessary to eat this in this weather. If we don’t eat this in this weather, Adana will kill us.”

“I have colon cancer, I can say I treated it with this”

Hakan Şenol, who stated that he had colon cancer and saw great benefits by consuming prickly pears during the treatment process, said, “It is one of the rare fruits in the world that is hormone-free, natural, and grows on its own. It has many benefits, and the greatest benefit is for the intestines. Take it, peel it here, take it home, put it in the freezer. It’s great before dinner, after dinner. Once I start eating it, I eat 10-12 pieces. I saw great benefits. I myself have colon cancer. I can say I even treated it with this without exaggeration.”