Black Sea Region

The Black Sea Region is an administrative area in northern Turkey that stretches along the coast and is shaped by forested mountains in the hinterland. The landscape consists of steep slopes reaching down to the water, small harbors and settlements that adapt to the topography, as well as tea plantations and hazelnut groves spread across the hills.

The mountain range in the hinterland separated the coastal settlements from the rest of Anatolia for centuries and encouraged independent communities. Greek, Georgian, and other influences shaped the culture before the region was finally incorporated into Turkish state territory within the Ottoman Empire.

People here speak dialects of Turkish as well as local languages like Laz, which you can still hear in villages along the coast. In the markets, vendors sell fresh fish, honey, and pastries filled with hazelnuts, while women often wear colorful headscarves that belong to the tradition of the area.

The coastal road connects the towns and villages but remains winding and sometimes slow to drive because of the mountains. The climate is humid all year round, so waterproof clothing is recommended, especially in spring and autumn when rain is frequent.

All of Turkey's tea comes from this area, harvested in the terraced fields arranged between the mountains. The hazelnut harvest supplies bakeries and factories around the world, with the trees thriving here in a climate that hardly fits anywhere else.