The 8th International Urla Artichoke Festival will take place between May 6 and May 8 this year.

Before talking about the festival itself, we would like to highlight the importance of artichokes for our health.

Thanks to their powerful antioxidant properties, artichokes help the body eliminate toxins and support healthy liver function. The quercetin and antioxidants they contain help protect the body against cancer, while their high fiber content contributes to balancing blood sugar levels. For people with diabetes in particular, artichokes prepared with olive oil or meat can significantly enhance the quality of their diet.

With their countless health benefits, we believe that artichokes deserve to be an essential part of our eating habits and daily nutrition.

Now, let’s talk about the festival.

The “Sakız Artichoke”, which has been cultivated commercially since the 1940s and has seen a significant increase in cultivation areas over the last five years, has become the star of the Urla Artichoke Festival, held annually since 2015.

This festival is truly a gastronomic celebration. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of artichoke-based delicacies, interactive workshops, cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs, and much more.

And here is a small recommendation from us: Arrive hungry! Because once you start tasting the delicious artichoke dishes, stuffed specialties, appetizers, and local snacks, you will want to try everything.

While talking about all these flavors, we would also like to share one of Chef Günay’s special artichoke recipes with you:

Fresh Apple Artichoke Dessert

After cleaning the freshly harvested artichokes, place them in a pot and add water, strawberry flavoring, cloves, quince seeds, and a slice of quince. Let them simmer for approximately 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, grate the apples and cook them gently with 2–3 tablespoons of sugar. Once removed from the heat, add cinnamon and walnuts.

Place the apple mixture into the center of the cooked artichokes.

Do not forget to top the dessert with clotted cream and tahini.

Your Fresh Apple Artichoke Dessert is now ready to serve!

If you are planning to visit the Artichoke Festival this year, be sure to stop by Maya and taste Chef Günay’s special artichoke menu. It is an experience not to be missed.