Clay ovens, tandoor, made in Kirkuk are popular throughout the Kurdistan Region and Iraq because of the distinct clay and the skilled workers.

Demand for the ovens has increased in the last few years and people are now using them in their gardens and farms, said Sarwar Hussein, an owner of a company making the ovens. 

Prices fluctuate according to the season. "The summer price is one and winter is another, because it is harder to produce in the winter and the demand for them increases," Hussein explained. 

The ovens are constructed out of red soil and straw. It takes up to five days to make one tandoor. The colder the weather gets, the longer it takes for the clay to harden and be ready for use.

Clay ovens have been made in Kirkuk by women for at least the past 70 years, but now men have taken up the practice. Kirkuk's Piryadi district is a hub for selling and buying these ovens and workers say they have the ability to meet the demand of all Iraq.