Reflections of Turkey-Greece population exchange on Manisa Alaşehir culinary culture

Abstract

Anatolia, with its geopolitical position, climatic characteristics, and fertile lands, is an ancient region that has hosted numerous civilizations and experienced significant migration phenomena. One of the notable migrations in this region in recent centuries is the population exchange. The population exchange occurred between Turkey and Greece under an agreement supplementary to the Lausanne Peace Treaty. As a result of this agreement, citizens of both countries were subjected to compulsory migration based on their religious beliefs and are referred to as exchangees. Among the settlements in Turkey where exchangees are densely populated is the Alaşehir district of Manisa province. Within this context, the purpose of this study is to examine the elements of exchangee culinary culture within the Alaşehir cuisine. The research adopts a qualitative approach, with data collected through semi-structured interview forms. Employing purposive sampling, the study includes 13 participants who were forcibly migrated to the district as a result of the population exchange. Content analysis of the data obtained from participants was conducted under five main themes: “Population Exchange, Food and Beverage, Culinary Practices, Events, and Traditionality.” Beyond the deep historical roots of exchangee cuisine, significant findings were obtained regarding dishes, cooking techniques, preservation methods, tools and equipment, gastronomic products, meals, and ceremonies associated with the exchangee culinary culture. In this regard, the study is expected to contribute to the preservation of the traditional structure of Alaşehir's exchangee culinary culture while fostering the development of a sustainability perspective.