In a cascade of golden wrappers and aromatic spices, the town of Manisa, round 40 kilometres northeast of the coastal metropolis of Izmir, just lately hosted the 485th Worldwide Mesir Macunu Pageant. Eight tonnes of therapeutic paste was showered on guests from 44 factors.
The enduring occasion is a five-century-old custom rooted in therapeutic, Ottoman legacy, and a secret recipe of 41 spices and botanicals.
Recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage, the competition traces its origins to the sixteenth century. Hafsa Sultan, spouse of Sultan Yavuz Selim and mom of Suleiman the Magnificent, fell gravely ailing whereas in Manisa. Her restoration was attributed to a therapeutic paste ready by Merkez Efendi, head of the Sultan Mosque madrasa and a revered doctor. In gratitude, Hafsa Sultan ordered the paste—now generally known as Mesir Macunu—to be distributed to the general public every spring.
Extra than simply drugs
“The Mesir scattered annually from the Sultan Mosque is greater than a gesture of well being—it’s a image of our unity, our shared identification, and the generosity rooted in our cultural DNA,” Vahdettin Ozkan, Governor of Manisa, tells TRT World. “Manisa stands as a residing testomony to our cultural heritage, a metropolis the place historical past and custom intertwine. The Mesir Paste, initially ready by Merkez Efendi to revive the well being of Hafsa Sultan, holds profound significance in our legacy.”
“What started centuries in the past has endured the passage of time, and right now continues to thrive with renewed spirit. Preserving and passing down this historic legacy is one in all our most significant duties. I hope the Mesir Paste, produced from 41 therapeutic herbs rooted within the fertile soil of our metropolis, brings wellness to all. I warmly invite everybody to affix us once more subsequent yr in Manisa to share on this pleasure,” Ozkan says.
On the coronary heart of the celebration lies the key: a candy but piquant paste infused with over forty herbs and spices, together with cinnamon, clove, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, cardamom, and saffron. The exact recipe stays guarded, but the assumption in its health-boosting properties has solely grown with time. As soon as cooked in nice copper cauldrons and aged in a single day, the paste is wrapped by hand readied for the Sacim Toreni, or “Scattering Ceremony.”
This yr, eight tonnes of Mesir paste have been thrown from the domes and balconies of the Sultan Mosque and close by rooftops to a sea of outstretched palms. Umbrellas, scarves, and procuring baggage served as nets to catch the coveted parcels. Residents and guests, drawn by curiosity and custom alike, crammed the streets of Manisa, to catch the paste.
The colourful ceremony held between 22 and 27 April included cultural performances, concert events, parades, and public lectures. Folkloric teams from all over the world joined in celebration. Practically 500 worldwide friends from Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus introduced their very own cultural traditions to share, making a residing mosaic of worldwide friendship.
“The Manisa Mesir Macunu Pageant is a outstanding custom that dates again to the sixteenth century, deeply woven into the material of our cultural identification,” Mucahit Arinc, Manisa’s member of parliament, tells TRT World. “Originating from the therapeutic story of Hafsa Sultan, who regained her well being by way of this particular mix of medicinal herbs, the competition continues to thrive right now, filling the streets of Manisa with vibrant vitality and timeless spirit.”
To stroll by way of Manisa in the course of the Mesir Pageant is to enter a residing archive—the place reminiscence, drugs, and group converge. Right here, historic recipes usually are not solely preserved however honoured. Every herb carries a lineage; every scattering, a reminder. In a world of transient moments, the Mesir Macunu presents a steadying fact: that the richest flavours typically come from the previous, and probably the most lasting cures from collective celebration.
“It represents the perfect of our values: therapeutic, hospitality, and concord. As representatives of the folks, it’s our accountability to make sure such heritage is protected and promoted. I warmly invite the world to affix us on this extraordinary legacy,” says Arinc.
“Not simply heritage; it’s hope”
Past folklore and festivities, Mesir paste now enjoys formal recognition. It has acquired Geographical Indication status from the European Union, changing into Türkiye’s twenty ninth licensed heritage product. Its inclusion on UNESCO’s cultural record additional ensures the legacy of a sultan’s therapeutic present lives on internationally.
The paste itself stays a matter of care and craftsmanship. Solely uncooked, complete spices are used—eschewing synthetic components, preservatives, or glucose. Domestically sourced sugar and conventional methods protect its texture and reputed medicinal energy.
“This can be a custom almost 500 years previous, uninterrupted,” Ufuk Tanik, President of the Manisa Mesir Promotion and Tourism Association, tells TRT World. “It’s not nearly heritage—it’s about hope. Many imagine the paste brings therapeutic, safety, even blessings like marriage or kids. These beliefs hold the spirit of the competition alive. To witness this custom stay—to be among the many crowd underneath the dome, to achieve out and catch a bit of historical past—is one thing unforgettable. It’s a residing reminiscence, a celebration of group, and a legacy we’re proud to cross ahead.”
As Manisa’s streets echoed with music and celebration, and as wrappers floated down like confetti from Ottoman rooftops, what lingered most was the sense that some traditions are everlasting. For the folks of Manisa, Mesir Macunu isn’t just a paste—it’s the flavour of reminiscence, of therapeutic, of dwelling.
