Abstract
From primitive times to the present humanity has passed through three forms of society based on gathering-hunting, agriculture and industry. With the first economic differentiation in the period of gathering-hunting, men specialized in hunting and women specialized in gathering. During the foraging period primitive people had the opportunity to get to know nature better in foraging, and so they started to farm the plants they found worthy of cultivation. In the meantime, they did not break their ties with other plants they discovered in nature, they transferred the knowledge and cultural accumulation they acquired about these plants to future generations.
From the moment they started to know nature, people generally chose to live in regions with favorable climatic conditions. By mild climate, rich plant diversity and location, Giresun has been one of the most important settlement areas since ancient times.
Geography and climatic features are the most important factors that shape culinary cultures in the world. The geographical differences between the coastal and inland parts of Giresun geography have enriched the plant and animal variation in the region. Although the slopes facing the sea on the coast and the higher rough areas are heavily rainy and covered with dense vegetation, the inner parts are covered with low rainy and steppe plants, and dry forest residues are encountered on the slopes.
The rich and diverse vegetation of the Giresun region, the agricultural and livestock activities prevailing in the region have been the main determinants of the culinary culture of the region. The basis of the nutrition culture of the region is cereal products and meat dishes in the inner part, while agricultural products such as corn, castle and beans are concentrated in the coastal part. In addition to these foods, people of Giresun frequently use edible wild plants that grow naturally in their kitchens. The geographical and physical differences between the south of the province and the coastal areas have increased the diversity of wild plants as well as enriching the use of wild plants in the kitchen. In this study, it is aimed to reveal the richness and diversity of the local cuisine by examining the place of wild plants in the culinary culture of Giresun region.