Introduction to Peksimet

Peksimet, an inland village located on the Bodrum Peninsula. It's part of the Turgutreis municipality and it's nestled between Gümüşlük and it's closest neighbour the village of Dereköy.

The local landmark is a group of windmills on the crest of a hill.

One has been renovated to include a walled garden, glass conservatory and wishing well, but it looks like the other remaining ones are in various stages of dilapidation.

Follow the curve of the road from Gümüşlük, and you'll see the windmills at the top of the hill. Just as you round the base of the hill, there's a small restaurant on your left, Yel Değirmeni. The best seat in the house is a small table and chairs in their blue-roofed windmill.

History

Peksimet in the Ark of Taste: Peksimet is also the Turkish word for the twice-baked bread (similar to a rusk) that originated in this area, and has been used for centuries by local fisherman and sponge divers. This provisional food could be kept for at least six months when stored in a dry place, and was wet with seawater before eating.

It was also traditional to make these yolluk (road foods), for those going to the army, on a pilgrimage, to study, on a long trip, or leaving the country to work. These food items needed to be able to last for a long time without spoiling.

Four different kinds of flour are used to make peksimet: whole-wheat flour, millet flour, rye flour and barley flour, which are all kneaded together with yeast. It is baked, cooled, and baked again for two days at low heat in traditional outdoor stone ovens.

Peksimet is one of the items on the Slow Food Foundation's Ark of Taste list. This foundation supports biodiversity and created the Ark to catalogue local food products, that are an integral part of the culture and at risk of extinction.

There are still a few elderly producers who make the bread, and it's sold at local farmers' markets, but is at risk of extinction because it is difficult and time consuming to make.

Information about Slow Food Ark of Taste: Peksimet in Ark of Taste

Getting There

• Head out of Gümüşlük towards Ortakent and Bodrum and you'll pass through Peksimet and then Dereköy.
• Distance from Gümüşlük dolmuş station: 4.5km
• Distance from central Turgutreis: 7 km

Getting Around 

• The Bodrum to Gümüşlük Dolmus goes through Peksimet

Things to Do

• Hike up the hill to a close-up of the Windmills and a view of Derekoy (Click here for a the Peksimet Windmill Photo Gallery)

Map

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