The secret to success for a chestnut candy producer: Offering the most natural sugar to the discerning Japanese

The reputation of the geographically indicated Aydın chestnut has spread abroad. Chestnut candy, in particular, is in high demand both domestically and internationally. Chestnut candy produced in Nazilli is exported to many countries, primarily in the Far East. Both the harvesting of the chestnut and its removal from its prickly shell require great effort. The candy of the chestnut, a staple of cold winter days, is also very popular.

COMPETING WITH ITALY

Aydın, one of Turkey's largest chestnut-producing provinces, now wants to make a name for itself with its chestnut candy. Chestnut candy produced in Aydın is attracting great interest both at home and abroad. Producers in Nazilli, who are quite ambitious in chestnut production, are equally ambitious in making chestnut candy. Competing with Italy, producers in Nazilli, who have made chestnut candy beloved worldwide in Turkey, produce chestnut candy from chestnuts known as "sugar chestnuts" grown in the Aksu and Işıklar neighborhoods at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters. In the Nazilli district, an average of 400 tons of chestnuts are processed annually to produce chestnut candy. This production also makes a significant contribution to employment.

MADE THE JAPANESE LOVE THIS DELICACY

As such, entrepreneur Mustafa Çetin, who lives in Aksu Neighborhood and turned this production into an opportunity, has become a global brand with the natural chestnut candy he produces from geographically indicated chestnuts. Mustafa Çetin, who made the Japanese love this delicacy 15 years ago, stated that the secret to this business is offering the most natural version of chestnut candy to the discerning Japanese. Explaining the trick of the trade, Nazilli chestnut candy producer Çetin said, "Our secret is that we do not use glucose or additives. We only use sugar derived from beets. We produce by hand, purchasing the highest quality chestnuts in our region. We process every chestnut one by one by hand. Because it is not like those made in Italy or other provinces, our natural chestnut candy is very popular."

"IT GOES TO BURSA FROM US TOO"

Stating that he has been making this chestnut candy for 17 years, business owner Mustafa Çetin said, "Aydın chestnut is a product that has received a geographical indication. Chestnut harvesting begins in October. We start producing our chestnut candy in November. We do this work until May. Our employees are usually all women. Chestnut candy production lasts for a total of 7 months. Our chestnut is a first-class Aydın chestnut. My biggest market is Japan, and I send 3 or 4 containers of chestnut candy there annually. At the same time, I send chestnuts and chestnut candy to large businesses across Turkey. My biggest market is İzmir, followed by Samsun, Antalya, Ankara, Muğla, and Istanbul. We even work with large supermarkets. I process 350-400 tons of chestnuts annually. Most of the chestnuts in Bursa also go from us, that is, from the Aydın region," he said.

EXPLAINED THE PRODUCTION PROCESS

Chestnut candy producer Mustafa Çetin also spoke about the production stages of the chestnut until it becomes chestnut candy, saying, "Chestnuts called 'Şekerci' (sugar chestnuts), harvested in the high-altitude Aksu and Işıklar neighborhoods of Nazilli, are kept in pits for about a month so that they can be removed from their prickles more easily. The chestnuts taken out of the pits are brought to the facility after being separated from their shells. The chestnuts, which are boiled in hot water for 5-10 minutes, are processed one by one by our employees to be separated from their outer skins. They are sorted by size. Before the chestnuts are dipped in syrup, they are wrapped in tulle so they do not fall apart. After reaching the right consistency, the tulles are opened. Then the chestnuts are boiled, washed, syruped, and left to rest for a day. Afterwards, they are packaged and offered for sale."
Inviting those who want to produce chestnut candy to his facility and teaching them the tricks of the trade, Mustafa Çetin emphasized that he does not refrain from sharing the tricks of chestnut candy production so that the country's chestnuts can gain the value they deserve and be competitive in the world.