If you live in Germany and cook Turkish food, you have probably asked yourself: "What is this called in German?" Alıç, sumak, karadut, ışkın root, kudret narı… Many Turkish foods and traditional products do not appear in any textbook. In this glossary we have collected the most frequently asked products with their German (and English) names and a short explanation.
Use the German names when shopping in a German supermarket, reading labels or sharing a recipe with friends. If WeNatur sells the product, you will find the link right next to it.
Fruits, Plants and Spices
| Turkish | German (English) | Short explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Alıç | Weißdorn (hawthorn) | Shrub with small red fruits (Crataegus). Alıç sirkesi is Weißdornessig (hawthorn vinegar) in German. → Zühre Ana Hawthorn Vinegar |
| Sumak | Sumach (sumac) | Tangy, red-purple spice (Rhus coriaria). Do not confuse it with ornamental sumac from the garden. |
| Karadut | Schwarze Maulbeere (black mulberry) | Dark purple, juicy mulberry (Morus nigra). Karadut özü: Schwarzer Maulbeerextrakt. → Zühre Ana Black Mulberry Extract |
| Dut pekmezi | Maulbeersirup (mulberry molasses) | Thickened mulberry juice. → Zühre Ana Mulberry Pekmez |
| Işkın / Işkın kökü | Johannisbeer-Rhabarber, Rhabarberwurzel (wild rhubarb root) | Wild rhubarb species from Eastern Anatolia (Rheum ribes). Işkın kökü sirkesi: Rhabarberwurzel-Essig. → Zühre Ana Işkın Root Vinegar |
| Kudret narı | Bittermelone / Balsambirne (bitter melon) | Tropical fruit with an orange, warty skin (Momordica charantia). Kudret narı macunu: Bittermelonen-Paste. → Kudret Narı Paste |
| Çam kozalağı | Kiefernzapfen (pine cone) | The cone of the pine tree. → Zühre Ana Çam Çırası Pine Cone Water |
| Çam çırası | Kienholz (resinous pine wood) | Pine wood rich in resin; also used colloquially for resinous pine products. |
| Gilaburu | Gemeiner Schneeball (guelder rose) | Sour red berry known from Kayseri (Viburnum opulus). → Zühre Ana Gilaburu Vinegar |
| İğde | Ölweide (oleaster) | Mealy, sweet fruit (Elaeagnus angustifolia). → Zühre Ana Oleaster Seed Paste |
| Keçiboynuzu | Johannisbrot (carob) | Sweet brown pod; the flour is called Johannisbrotmehl. → Zühre Ana Carob Extract |
| Enginar | Artischocke (artichoke) | → Zühre Ana Artichoke Paste |
| Hindiba | Zichorie / Wegwarte (chicory) | The roasted root is brewed like coffee: Zichorienkaffee. → Harmana Chicory Coffee |
| Karahindiba | Löwenzahn (dandelion) | Often confused with hindiba, but a different plant. |
| Çörek otu | Schwarzkümmel (black seed) | Çörek otu yağı: Schwarzkümmelöl. → Cold-Pressed Black Seed Oil |
| Sarı kantaron | Johanniskraut (St. John's wort) | Sarı kantaron yağı: Johanniskrautöl (used for skin care). → St. John's Wort Oil |
| Damla sakızı | Mastix (mastic) | Resin of the mastic tree, used to flavour desserts and puddings. |
| Civanperçemi | Schafgarbe (yarrow) | White-flowering, aromatic plant. |
Vinegars, Pekmez and Sauces
| Turkish | German (English) | At WeNatur |
|---|---|---|
| Elma sirkesi | Apfelessig (apple cider vinegar) | Zühre Ana Apple Vinegar |
| Ananas sirkesi | Ananasessig (pineapple vinegar) | Zühre Ana Pineapple Vinegar |
| Gül sirkesi | Rosenessig (rose vinegar) | Zühre Ana Rose Vinegar |
| Alıç sirkesi | Weißdornessig (hawthorn vinegar) | Zühre Ana Hawthorn Vinegar |
| Nar ekşisi | Granatapfelsirup (pomegranate molasses) | Pomegranate Molasses without Additives |
| Pekmez | Fruchtsirup (fruit molasses) | Üzüm pekmezi: Traubensirup (grape molasses) |
| Meyve özü | Fruchtextrakt / Fruchtkonzentrat (fruit extract) | Apricot Extract |
Regional Specialities and Sweets
| Turkish | German (English) | Explanation / At WeNatur |
|---|---|---|
| Tarhana | Tarhana (dried soup base) | Dried dough of yoghurt, flour and vegetables for soups. → Homemade Aydın Tarhana |
| Pastırma | Pastırma (air-dried beef) | Air-dried beef coated with çemen paste. → Kayseri-Style Pastırma |
| Pestil | Fruchtleder (fruit leather) | Thin sheets of dried fruit purée. → Pestil with Hazelnut Paste |
| Cezerye | Karottenkonfekt (carrot confection) | Sweet made from carrots and nuts, from Mersin. → Cezerye with Pistachios |
| Lokum | Lokum (Turkish delight) | Note: "Türkischer Honig" in Germany is not lokum but a white nougat sweet. |
| Kuru kayısı | getrocknete Aprikose (dried apricot) | Dried Malatya Apricots |
| Kuru incir | getrocknete Feige (dried fig) | Dried Aydın Figs |
| Ceviz içi | Walnusskerne (walnut kernels) | WeNatur Walnut Kernels |
| Kabak çekirdeği | Kürbiskerne (pumpkin seeds) | Roasted Pumpkin Seeds |
Tips for Finding These Products in Germany
- Try both names: Many German shops and recipe sites also use the Turkish name ("Sumak", "Pekmez", "Tarhana").
- The Latin name is the safest: Plant names are often confused (for example chicory and dandelion).
- Sirup, Extrakt or Essig: Pekmez and fruit extracts are usually called "Sirup" or "Extrakt", vinegars "Essig".
- Spice, not ornamental plant: The spice is called Gewürzsumach; ornamental sumac from the garden is not edible.
Reading German Labels: Key Words
- Zutaten – Ingredients
- Nährwerte – Nutrition facts
- Mindestens haltbar bis – Best before
- Nach dem Öffnen kühl lagern – Keep refrigerated after opening
- Ohne Zusatzstoffe – No additives
- Ohne Zuckerzusatz – No added sugar
- Kann Spuren von … enthalten – May contain traces of …
- Herkunft / Ursprungsland – Origin / country of origin
- Nahrungsergänzungsmittel – Food supplement
At WeNatur you will find ingredients, nutrition facts and storage information on the product pages in English, German and Turkish. Use the language switch at the top of the page to see the same product with its German or Turkish name.
For more on the plants, see Wikipedia: Rhus coriaria (sumac) and Morus nigra (black mulberry).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is alıç sirkesi in German?
Alıç sirkesi is Weißdornessig (hawthorn vinegar) in German. Alıç is hawthorn (Weißdorn).
What is sumak in German?
The spice sumak is called Sumach or Gewürzsumach in German; many shops also sell it as "Sumak".
What is karadut in German?
Karadut is the black mulberry, Schwarze Maulbeere in German. Dut pekmezi is Maulbeersirup.
What is çam çırası in German?
Çam çırası means resinous pine wood, Kienholz in German. A pine cone (çam kozalağı) is a Kiefernzapfen.
What is kudret narı?
Kudret narı is bitter melon (German: Bittermelone or Balsambirne, Momordica charantia).
More guides
- Menemen recipe
- What is pekmez?
- Turkish sweets
- Turkish nuts & dried fruit
- Turkish olives
- Turkish tea & tea varieties
- Turşu: Turkish pickles
- Tropical fruits list
- Tahini & nut butters
- Rosemary oil & rosemary water
- How to store garlic
- What is propolis?
- Date varieties
- Turkish cheese varieties
- Turkish salça: pepper & tomato paste
- What is sucuk?
