The EU supports the preservation of the name Manisa Mesir Macunu, recognising its special characteristics tied to the region’s environment and its traditional production methods.

EUROPEAN UNION, 2025

Offering Manisa Mesir Macunu in a stick form to carry and consume

This sugary paste is made of 41 different spices, herbs and fruits combined together. It has a soft texture and sticky consistency with a sweet, spicy and bitter taste. While non-volatile compounds are mainly responsible for the pungent, bitter and harsh flavours of spices, oils are responsible for the smell and aroma. Its colour varies from amber to dark brown.

It is presented either as a liquid paste in glass jars or as solid sticks of 11-12 cm or 3-4 cm wrapped in foil. Offering the paste in stick form makes it easier to carry and consume. Manisa Mesir Macunu in stick form is popular at traditional festivals or special occasions.

In 1527, Doctor Merkez Efendi produced Manisa Mesir Macunu as a medicine. It was used to cure Hafsa Sultan, the mother of Suleiman the Magnificent. He then ordered it to be distributed to the public.

EUROPEAN UNION, 2025

The Mesir Macunu Festival is celebrated during the Nevruz week (21-24 March), which marks the beginning of spring each year

Since then, the Mesir Macunu festival, celebrated during the Nevruz week (21-24 March), marking the beginning of spring, has been held infor almost 400 years.

Every year, thousands of people gather in front of the Sultan Mosque in Manisa to catch the Manisa Mesir Macunu, which is wrapped in paper and thrown from the roof of the mosque.

In 2012, the Manisa Mesir Festival was included in UNESCO's 2012 Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. 

EUROPEAN UNION, 2025

Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski, the Head of the Delegation of the EU to Türkiye

The Head of the Delegation of the EU to Türkiye, Ambassador Thomas Hans Ossowski, states: “I welcome the registration of this traditional sweet, Manisa Mesir Macunu, as a PGI with great pleasure. For traditional products such as Manisa Mesir Macunu, the EU’s recognition plays a crucial role in maintaining their prestige and raising awareness. With the EU’s PGI registration, its producers will expand their market opportunities.”

EUROPEAN UNION, 2025

Ufuk Tanık, president of the Manisa and Mesir Promotion and Tourism Association

Ufuk Tanık, president of the Manisa and Mesir Promotion and Tourism Association, which applied for PGI registration, says: “The EU registration of Manisa Mesir Macunu is very important for the recognition of our product, our festival, our province and our country. In my opinion, this will also positively affect tourism.”

Producer Aydın Yıldırım states: “Thanks to the EU registration, the recognition of this local product of Manisa will increase both in Türkiye and Europe. The EU’s registration will also contribute to tourism in the province.”

Another producer, İrfan Dinçer, says: “We expect that EU’s registration will lead to greater media coverage and recognition of Mesir Macunu.”

EUROPEAN UNION, 2025

Antep Baklavası/Gaziantep Baklavası, Aydın Kestanesi, Aydın İnciri, Bayramiç Beyazı, Malatya Kayısısı, Milas Zeytinyağı, Taşköprü Sarımsağı, Giresun Tombul Fındığı, Antakya Künefesi, Suruç Narı, Çağlayancerit Cevizi, Gemlik Zeytini, Edremit Zeytinyağı, Milas Yağlı Zeytini, Ayaş Domatesi, Edremit Körfezi Yeşil Çizik Zeytini, Maraş Tarhanası, Ezine Peyniri, Safranbolu Safranı, Aydın Memecik Zeytinyağı, Araban Sarımsağı, Bingöl Balı, Osmaniye Yer Fıstığı, Bursa Şeftalisi, Hüyük Çileği, Bursa Siyah İnciri/Bursa Siyahı, Söke Pamuğu, Manisa Mesir Macunu, Gaziantep Menengiç Kahvesi / Gaziantep Melengiç Kahvesi, Silifke Yoğurdu, Aydın Memecik Zeytini, Aydın Çam Fıstığı, Afyon Pastırması, Afyon Sucuğu, and Gaziantep Fıstık Ezmesi.

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