Making tomato paste at home is a traditional method that has been going on for centuries in many regions of Turkey. This tradition is still kept alive today, especially in regional cities such as Gaziantep, Urfa and Diyarbakır.
Süleyman Şahin, 77, who lives in the Hacıbaba Neighborhood of Antep, spent most of his life working as a porter. When his aging body could no longer carry heavy loads, he started working as a hawker. Now, he is trying to make a living by opening a small slipper stall near his home.
The Fırat Neighborhood of the Şahinbey district of Antep is a settlement established by migration, like many other neighborhoods. Now, the demolition decision taken for a part of the neighborhood on the grounds of “social facilities” is forcing the citizens here to migrate again.
Molasses making is one of the most deep-rooted traditions that has been going on in Anatolia for thousands of years. Every year, with the decay of the vineyards in the fall, natural food products such as molasses, pestil and sausage are prepared. This production is not only a food processing process; it is also the survival of a cultural heritage.