Olive oil – other than millions of kitchens – has got a new address in Turkey recently and it has a big role to play in the country’s tourism industry now ! It is because, Turkey has got a first-of-its-kind olive oil museum – Adatepe Olive Oil Museum – that depicts hundreds of years of olive oil history and exhibits hundreds of olive oil-related products.
One of Turkey’s little soap shops cum soap making centre of 1960, showcasing handmade olive oil products is transformed into a museum of olive oil now. Turkey, having Olive trees in abundance for centuries, its oil is a staple of Turkish cuisine and a key ingredient in the country’s famous handmade olive oil soap.
Located in Turkey’s north-western province of Cannakkale, Adatepe Olive Oil Museum displays about 200 olive-oil based products, which can be traced back to over two centuries ago. The museum also exhibits the tools about olive and olive oil which include olive presses, harvesting and storage equipment. Not only this, promoting the health benefits of the product the museum also eliminates common misconceptions and myths about the ancient oil used in food across the Mediterranean and Middle East.
The museum being unique in its own genre can be inspirational for other countries, as it can be a beautiful way of exposing and educating people around the world about their own products which in turn will boost the country’s tourism industry automatically.With its glorious past and significance, Adatepe Olive Oil Museum welcomes some 50,000 visitors a year.
A visit to Turkey’s first olive oil museum founded in July 2001, will surely offer you a rare and fulfilling experience of the country’s rich historical connect and ‘agri-heritage’ along with a complete knowledge about the product. Again if you will study the maps, images and texts those are on display at the museum, it will bring to life the adventure-filled journeys of Olive oil from Middle East to Europe. Best thing is that, entry to the museum is totally free of cost.
Additionally, the museum’s gift shop awakes your shopping interest, by offering some authentic Turkish products. Here you can buy bottles of olive oil elegantly packaged in ceramic bottles, handmade olive oil soaps, local artisan products and some cosmetic that are made from olive oil. So, a trip to the museum is highly gainful and is positively recommendable.
