Dorak Yogurt

As you wander through the unique natural beauties of the Koramaz Valley, you'll encounter villages that continue to uphold thousands of years of Anatolian traditions. To relieve your pleasant fatigue after your hike, I especially invite you to try Dorak Yogurt, which is made in Ağırnas and Turan.

Dorak yogurt is made in carved stone vessels made from a volcanic, porous, and relatively lightweight rock called Dorak, found in the region. Today, there is only one known Dorak master left, living in Ağırnas, and he still produces Dorak.

Dorak Yogurt is essentially regular yogurt with the water drained. You fill the Dorak container with your ready-to-eat yogurt, add a little salt to prevent spoilage, and as the yogurt sits in the stone container for a few days, the water drains through the pores, leaving behind a thick yogurt. This process is repeated until the Dorak is full. So, it's possible to add yogurt on top of each other. Dorak Yogurt is a yogurt preservation method developed especially in hot, highland areas where refrigerators are unavailable, to prevent yogurt from spoiling.

Dorak Yogurt, after being thoroughly drained, reaches a cheese-like consistency and can also be diluted to make buttermilk. You won't be able to get enough of buttermilk made from Dorak Yogurt.

In the harsh living conditions of Anatolia, humankind has devised ingenious solutions to survive. Dorak is one of the most delicious of these solutions.

I invite all visitors to Koramaz Valley to follow in the footsteps of Dorak and his Yogurt.