Rock Samphire (Crithmum maritimum L.) as a Functional Food: Awareness, Consumption Habits and Culinary Use

Abstract

Functional foods are the name given to food groups that, when consumed, have beneficial effects such as promoting and maintaining metabolic health and preventing diseases, rather than just meeting nutritional needs. Rock samphire (Crithmum maritimum L.), is a plant that grows naturally in the Mediterranean and Aegean regions of Turkey and on the coasts of Cyprus, has been consumed in these regions for many years. The consumption of the rock samphire, which draws attention with its high iodine and bioactive component content, has been limited to the regions where it grows. In this study, the local consumption habits, recipes of the rock samphire plant and the awareness of its functional properties were determined. In the study, six different recipes were obtained from the local people. Traditional products prepared according to the recipes were photographed by the authors. In addition, twenty local people were interviewed and it was determined that consumers were informed about the functional properties of the rock samphire and that these properties motivated consumers to consume the plant. As a result of the study, it was concluded that the integration of locally-consumed rock samphire into the daily diets by introducing them into non-regional cuisines would contribute positively to the general public health and the economy of the region.