Turkey Ranks Second in the World in Beekeeping

For eight years, Anavarza Bal has supported the International Adana Taste Festival, continuing its operations in Kozan district of Adana, which produces the most honey in Turkey. Anavarza Bal, ranked among the world's ten most competent facilities, is also Turkey's first brand to produce powdered honey.

Anavarza Bal General Manager Can Sezen states: "Kozan is Turkey's highest honey-producing district, and beekeeping is present in almost every family here. We rolled up our sleeves in 1995 to transform this value into a national brand and reached where we are today." Can Sezen continues: "We are from Kozan; our grandfathers also lived here. We know the production capacity of this region and beekeeping well. Thinking that beekeeping is a value of this region, in 1995 we started the honey packaging and packing process in Kozan, Turkey's highest honey-producing district, under the Anavarza Bal brand." 

The location where the Anavarza facility is situated was a place purchased by Can Sezen's father, Süleyman Sezen, for his first food businesses. The story of Anavarza Bal, which began on approximately 500 m² of land, now continues in 15,000 m² of space in the same location as the business developed.

TURKEY'S FIRST POWDERED HONEY PRODUCTION

Anavarza Bal, which received the London Gold Award in 2023 and the Paris Taste Award in 2024, became Turkey's first brand to produce powdered honey. Powdered honey, which is the dried form of honey through a drying system, previously only entered our country through imports.

POWDERED HONEY TO REACH END CONSUMERS

Sezen states that while powdered honey currently has only industrial sales, it will reach end consumers in the coming period, noting that this 100 percent natural product can be used instead of sugar in tea and coffee. Sezen added that powdered honey is used in innovative products made with honey by many local and global chocolate, chip, feed, and bread brands.

Sezen, stating that they have an annual production capacity of approximately 8,500 tons, indicated that in addition to Flower Honey and Pine Honey products, they have products in many different flavors such as Thyme Honey, Chestnut Blossom Honey, Citrus Blossom Honey, and Carob Honey. Stating that Flower Honey is the most popular product, Sezen mentioned that Thyme and Chestnut Honey are also highly preferred.

Sezen also stated that they launched Cream Honey for the first time in Turkey, noting that it is a product that particularly facilitates honey consumption for children and can be easily spread on bread.

GENUINE HONEY CRYSTALLIZES SOONER OR LATER

Can Sezen states that it is impossible to determine whether honey is genuine or fake by looking at its color, taste or smell. "Genuine honey crystallizes sooner or later. The most important thing consumers should pay attention to is choosing branded honey rather than loose honey. Regarding counterfeiting cases that have emerged, I must note that genuine honey cannot be understood without analysis. When compared to world prices, honey prices in Turkey are reasonable," he said.

FACILITY AMONG WORLD'S TEN MOST COMPETENT FACILITIES

Can Sezen, who entered the family business at a very young age, provided information about the Anavarza Bal facilities in Kozan: "Today, our facility is among the world's ten most competent facilities. Our facility houses a fully accredited and independent laboratory. We can perform all analyses that can be done on honey worldwide. Through this, we are a supplier to some of the world's largest food brands," he said.

FACILITY SUPPLIES ITS OWN ENERGY

Sezen, stating that the facility has a system that meets its own energy needs, said they are conscious about sustainability. He stated that the facility has a sensory analysis laboratory, and through this laboratory they analyze and jar the most delicious honeys. Sezen, stating that they purchase products from contracted beekeepers throughout Turkey, said: "The important criterion for us is that the honey we will purchase passes approximately 100 analyses we conduct in our accredited laboratory. We accept suitable products into our facility and jar them," he said.

100,000 FAMILIES IN OUR COUNTRY EARN THEIR LIVING FROM BEEKEEPING

Can Sezen, providing important information about beekeeping, continued: "Our country is the world's second largest beekeeping country. In our country, approximately 9 million bee colonies, 100,000 beekeeping families, and approximately 115,000 tons of honey production are realized. Therefore, we have an important place in world honey production. We want beekeeping to develop further in our country and for those who want to do this work to increase. I would also like to add that bees produce more than just honey. They have many high-value products; such as bee venom, pollen, propolis. Our country has a lot of room to go in these types of alternative bee products. We especially recommend new entrepreneurs focus on these types of high-value products."

ITS NAME COMES FROM THE ANAVARZA ANCIENT CITY LOCATED IN KOZAN

Anavarza is an ancient city located in Dilekkaya Village in Kozan District. It is said to be Turkey's largest ancient city after Ephesus. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List's tentative list and appears in Yaşar Kemal's novel İnce Memed.