What is bittim soap and how is it used?
A traditional care product from the wild pistachio tree of Siirt's mountains: bittim soap and its generations-old use.
On the mountain slopes around Siirt grows a wild relative of the pistachio: the bittim tree. Bittim soap, known in our region for generations, is made with oil from the tree's small fruits.
The bittim tree and the pistachio
Bittim is a wild pistachio from the same family as the Siirt pistachio. When pistachio orchards are planted in our region, pistachio is often grafted onto bittim trees — so even the roots of the pistachios in our orchards rely on this hardy wild tree. Another member of the family, menengic, is roasted and ground into menengic coffee.
A traditional care soap
The oil of the bittim fruit is turned into soap using traditional methods. The resulting soap is widely used in our region for washing hair and body care; it lathers richly and has a distinctive, slightly resinous scent.
How to use it
- For hair: Lather on wet hair, gently massage the scalp, then rinse thoroughly.
- For the body: Lather on wet skin and rinse.
- Resting it on a draining soap dish after use makes it last longer.
Good to know
Bittim soap is a cosmetic product; it is not a substitute for medical advice for problems such as hair loss, dandruff or skin conditions. If you have sensitive skin, try it on a small area first, and avoid contact with the eyes.
We select this traditional product of Siirt with the same care as our pistachios and bring it to you.
