Lentil

About Lentil

Lentils are from pulses group and benefited as nourishment. Their mainland is not known definitely but believed to be Middle Asia. It is one of the oldest agricultural products and most of it has been cultivated widely in Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is estimated that, lentil was the first agricultural product grown for the first time in 8.000 B.C. in Mesopotamia and then 6000 B.C. in the Delta of Nile River.

The sign related to first consumption of lentils was found in the remnants of a lake house in Switzerland inherited from Bronze Age. The plant has plenty of 15-45 cm. tall branches and all leaves contain 6 tiny leaves with a thorn. It has light blue flowers which open between June and July. The plant has slightly fat, large 15-20 mm. long seed envelopes containing two seeds of 4-6 mm. diameter.

The color of seed depends on cultivated variety changes among yellow, green, dark brown and orange. The plant is well known with its soup and meal. It has many kinds with very nutritive varieties containing protein, B vitamin and phosphorus. Especially red kind is ideal to lower cholesterol and besides this, it is estimated that lentil has nutritious value similar to mother milk.

Lentils are being cultivated and consumed in all over the world widely in many countries as the main nutritive food. In many Catholic Countries, it has been consumed as a staple food during Easter.

Turkey has a significant place in the World's lentil cultivation. According to statistical data, Turkey is in the top three among lentil growing countries. Most of lentil production in Turkey is realized in the South-East Anatolian part, primarily in Mardin, Sanliurfa, Gaziantep and Batman.