A founder

One of the founders of Balaban was my grandfather, Haci Mahmut Agha. This picture (in the left) was taken in Gallipoli in 1942, when he was doing his second and prudential military
service (possible Hitler's attack against Turkey during The Second World War). He sent this picture his widowed mother-in-law, who was one of the elderly in the town, with a message in the back side (below) of the picture. He said that "I am sending this picture to my esteemed mother-in-law as an eternal memory." I think, we have just realized this "eternal memory"! By the way, other picture (in the right) belongs to one of his sons.

Globally Pistachios

Pistachio is very nutritious like other tree nuts. Due to its high food value and favorable taste, planting pistachio trees has become common in many parts of the world. Pistachio product as a commercial output has a special importance in the agricultural production of some countries. For instance, in 2005 worldwide production of pistachio was 501 million metric tons and 38 percent of total output was produced by Iran. It was followed by the US with 28 percent, Turkey with 12 percent, Syria with 12 percent, China with 7 percent, Greece with 2 percent and the rest of the world just about 1 percent.

The sweetest form of pistachios; 'baklava'

Baklava is a favorite dessert for many people around the world, and pistachio is one of the main ingredients of baklava. As I know, there are numerous distinctive recipes and types of baklava, but the most favorite kind of baklava is made with pistachio according to many people, because pistachio's unique colour, scrumptious flavour and aromatic scent are indispensable components for many dessert lovers. My hometown Gaziantep is the most important baklava center in Turkey and may be in the world, because it has hundreds particular pastry shops specialized over many kinds of baklava. I think, the great amount of cultivation pistachios around Gaziantep is a significant factor of this result.

The Short History of Pistachios

According to some sources, the reliable historical indication of edible nuts directs attention to pistachios, the initial archaeological discoveries date back to 6760 B.C. (in a near settlements in the Neolith) in the district of modern Jordan. Then, pistachios were soon considered as food for the rich and the distinguished groups. Despite the fact that pistachio trees have been known for a long period of time, the place of their origin is questionable. They probably come from the Middle East, Persia, and western Asia, where they grew wild in the high desert regions. The history of pistachio nuts reflects royalty, endurance and pride. The times of pistachios backs to the Holy Lands of the Middle East. A story has it that lovers used to meet under pistachio trees and listened to the cracking of their nuts below moonlit nights, which was a sign that they would be fortunate. A rare fragility, pistachios were a favorite of the Queen of Sheba, who claimed cultivation of all her land for herself and her attendants. Although known to the Romans, the pistachio appears not to have reached the Mediterranean or most of the Near East in any quantity before medieval times. More recently, pistachio has been cultivated in California (first commercial harvest in 1976) and Australia.

Amid the pistachios boughs ...

If you live rural area of a country, you should know very well that everybody has a particular job in the family. For instance, in the harvesting time of pistachios, someone has to pick the pistachios in the upper brances of a tree. However, these guys should be a little small and light in weight in order to avoid damaging of the tree. Yes, children of the family are good prototype for this kind of a job. I am not sure whether fortunate or unfortunate these children are, but this is a reality. Honestly, now I myself miss this old times.

The Scent of Pistachios

Yes, it has unique, fantastic and lively colour, we can easily see these characteristics in every part of the pictures. More than that, it has a stunning fragrance throughout its trunk, branches, leaves and fresh fruits. I wish you smelled this amazing scent. Unfortunately, we do not have yet a technology which has ability of transmitting odour via online! Probably one day!

... And The Grapes of Balaban

The generous land of Barak plateau naturally provides plenty of fruits and crops, like grapes. Do you know that different grape species have distinct sized and coloured leaves? Yes, I know who cares! Unfortunately, people always want their distinct characteristics to be understood by other people. Ok. I respect this, but I guess nature and land consist of some sort of different features too. What a surprise! I think, step by step we can find some additional hints related to similarity between human beings and land (nature). Yes, absolutely every grape has a diffirent personality! Let's see:
Darker green, thinner and smaller leaves for white grapes.

Are these two upper white grapes same kind, what do you say?

And black grapes have thicker, bigger and more figured leaves.
And a little dusted, because the black easily displays dust! However, they are really yummy!

It is an interesting tree indeed

As I said before, the pistachios is really an impressive tree. This tree is over 20 years old. Interestingly, the growing of the pistachios tree has a similarity with human being in terms of time and effort. Almost all pistachios trees begin to give crops approximately at age of 15. Planting the tree alone is not enough, they need to be cared closely throughout these years. So, you have to work and spend money for many years without harvesting anything in order to raise the pistachios. As I said, it looks like human being!

By the way, you can see some boughs belong to an olive tree in the left handside of the picture, of course this land is pretty fertile!

It is just a village by the way ...

This is the land of delicious and colorful pistachios.
This is the land of abundant plateau.
This is the land of touching and stirring folk songs.
This is the center of the Barak Culture and Turkmen.
This is the land has witnessed the living history since the times of Hittites, (Carablus, Karkamis).
Here is the Barak Plateau in Gaziantep, Turkey. And here is one of the important village of Karkamis Province, here is Balaban Köyü (Village).

There is a village in there

When you travel from the city center of Gaziantep to Balaban Koyu, firstly this view of Balaban greets you directly from over small mound. This sight belongs to a typical village of southern Turkey, pretty plain land, partly wooded region, rather agricultural fields. This scene is taken in the middle of the summer, that's why everywhere is pretty dry. That' s true fairly dry, most of time!

Do you like capers? If you have not seen yet, the small bushes just left alongside the road are totally capers. Watch out! it has really keen and hook thorn with its fruit.

Have you ever seen the pistachio tree? You easily see the young pistachio trees in the left side of road. Yes, I know they look like a little mature bush, but in fact they are really big, impressive and strong kind of tree. We will see it later!