BT-058 · Capparaceae

Caper

Capparis spinosa
Evidence: TraditionalGenerally safe

Türkiye is among the world’s largest caper exporters; most capers are wild-harvested.

Other names
Caper bush, kebere (Turkish)
Part used
Buds, fruit, root
Region
Anatolia and the Mediterranean
Use
Food, Healing
Caper (Capparis spinosa): white flowers with purple stamens
Photo: IssamBarhoumi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
In short

What is Caper?

Caper (Capparis spinosa) is a plant of the Capparaceae family. Traditions that use it: Anatolia and the Mediterranean. Part used: buds, fruit, root.

What is Caper used for?

Traditional use: The buds are pickled and used in cooking. Scientific evidence: traditional. Contains flavonoids such as rutin and kaempferol.

Is Caper safe?

Safety label: generally safe. Safe as food.

Traditional use

Anatolia

The buds are pickled and used in cooking. In folk use the root is boiled for rheumatism and the spleen.

Central Asia

In Uyghur folk medicine caper fruit is used for joint pain.

In nature

Where it grows
Dry, rocky places, wall bases and roadsides in the Southeast, Mediterranean and Central Anatolia.
Harvest season
Buds are picked early in the morning before they open, May–August.
Local names
kapari, kebere, gebere, keper

Mix-up risk

A spiny shrub, easy to recognise by its distinctive white-pink flowers.

Preparation

Buds are salted and pickled.

What science says

Contains flavonoids such as rutin and kaempferol. Beyond lab studies, human research is very scarce.

Safety

Generally safe

Safe as food.

Similar plants

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica): hairy toothed leaves and hanging flower clusters
BT-004

Stinging nettle

Urtica dioica
Urticaceae
Evidence: LimitedGenerally safe
Salep orchids (Orchis): purple flower spike
BT-005

Salep orchids

Orchis, Anacamptis, Dactylorhiza türleri
Orchidaceae
Restricted in TürkiyeOverharvested
Evidence: TraditionalGenerally safe
Thyme and oregano (Thymus): white and pink flowers
BT-006

Thyme and oregano

Thymus, Origanum, Thymbra, Satureja türleri
Lamiaceae
Evidence: LimitedGenerally safe

Sources

  1. ResearchCaper (Capparis spinosa L.): An Updated Review on Its Phytochemistry, Nutritional Value, Traditional Uses, and Therapeutic Potential
  2. ResearchKapari (Capparis spinosa): fitokimya, besin değeri, geleneksel kullanım (derleme)
  3. BookBaytop T. Türkiye’de Bitkiler ile Tedavi: Geçmişte ve Bugün. 2. baskı. İstanbul: Nobel Tıp Kitabevleri; 1999.
  4. Botanical recordKew Plants of the World Online: Capparis spinosa
  5. Titles of research sources are summarised in Turkish on the Turkish page; links open the original English publications.

Written by Edanaz Tınmazlar · Last reviewed: · Türkçe

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