Consumed mostly in the winter, as it is known to help treat flu and cold symptoms, the price of linden tea - made from the blossoms of linden trees - increases whenever there is a drop in production. Prices have now rocketed to a high of TL 200 per kilogram.

Herbalist Yaşar Çelik notes that linden trees are rare, the flowers are hard to collect, and is very much in demand during cold months as it is known to be medically beneficial. Çelik added that linden doesn't grow in many parts of Turkey - only in Bolu, Gebze and Yalova in the Marmara region - struggling in the Eastern region. The province of Elazığ has a few linden trees, but they don't blossom. "Its benefits are less when compared to the blossoms. One kilogram of linden tree leaves from Elazığ is equal to 100 grams of Yalova's linden tree blossoms. Last year the price per kilo was around TL 120, however the crop was way less this year," says Çelik.

Çelik noted that due to such high prices, people prefer other herbal trees, such as sage, and recommend ginger for coughing. "As lemon and peppermint have a lot of vitamins, we recommend them and there are mixtures especially made by us for winter months," said Çelik. He added that while rosehip is very high in vitamin C levels, almost equal to linden blossoms, it is no substitute.

Herbalist Mehmet Tatlı also confirms that the prices have almost doubled this winter and that even though the demand for linden is high, consumers are searching for alternatives. "I hope next year the crop will be much higher and pushes the prices down so that sales go up," said Tatlı.