Alaca Purple Onion (Alaca Moru)
Alaca Purple Onion (known locally as Alaca Moru) is one of the most important agricultural products of Alaca district, Çorum. Its dark red-purple, shiny, tough outer skin, distinctly tangy taste and sharp, intense aroma set it apart from other onion varieties.
Geographical indication registration
Alaca Purple Onion was the first product from Alaca district to receive a geographical indication. Following an application filed by Alaca Municipality on 04.03.2021, it was registered as a mark of origin with the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office on 14.12.2022, registration no. 1289 — the first of what would become Alaca’s eight registrations in the following years. See our geographical indication products page for the full picture.
Characteristics and cultivation
Alaca Purple Onion is known for its tough, shiny outer skin, dark colour, distinctly tangy taste and sharp aroma. Harvest takes place roughly 5-6 months after planting, usually in September. Locals call the larger onions “takoz” and the smaller ones “kavurmalık.” Onions grown in Alaca are not only sold domestically but are also exported to other countries.
The Çorum interpretation
The purple onion is so closely tied to Alaca’s identity that the district is sometimes called “the homeland of the purple onion.” After being chopped, it is typically rested for about 12 hours to soften some of its sharpness, giving it broad use in both raw salads and cooked dishes.
Cultural significance
The registration of Alaca Purple Onion was a pioneering step in formally protecting the district’s agricultural identity, and together with the seven registrations that followed, helped make Alaca one of the districts richest in geographical indications in Çorum.