Understandably, though, brand names like Gucci and Nike got extremely mad. Hence, lately, Turkey has cracked down on traders selling fake, branded items, so the availability is not the same as in recent years. Fake Chinese factory-made carpets are passed off as genuine Turkish. The buyer pays full price for something that is not even remotely like the authentic item. Lastly, in some places, swindlers sell fake antique items as ideal souvenirs to take home.
It is illegal to take any antiques out of Turkey without written permission. Some people buy Turkish carpets or rugs because they like the patterns and stories of how they are made. Turkish carpet sellers often work on commission, hence at times, the sales pattern and procedure is hardcore and in your face. After thirty minutes, the seller says you are his best friend so you get a special price. After 1 hour, he says the carpet is actually on hold for another person, but he likes you better so is prepared to forgo his integrity to sell it.
After 60 minutes, you buy the carpet out of pity because he says he is struggling to feed his six children and pay medical bills of his brother who is in hospital. He openly tells you this while wearing copious amounts of jewellery and using the latest model of mobile phone. If you do genuinely want one, remember the warnings about fakes and barter over the price. Sold everywhere and in many different flavours, Turkish delight is cheap and easy to pack but always check the use by date on them.
Most souvenirs shops offer samples and sell special deals such as buy five, get one free. If you are in Istanbul though, make your way to Haci Bekar in the Eminonu district. The family of the man who originally invented Turkish delight for an Ottoman sultan still own the shop, and it is a living museum. When tourists first land in Turkey, they have a stock of tea bags from back home. The thought of going without their daily fix of British or American tea, makes them break out in sweats.
However, when they leave Turkey, they take home boxes of apple tea. Unfortunately, Turks rarely drink it! Turkish tea is black, highly sweetened and drank from tulip-shaped glasses. Traditional black tea and the many different designs of small tea glasses with spoons and trays included are perfect souvenirs to take home.
The nargile, also called a Turkish smoking pipe, originated from India and found its way to Turkey during the Ottoman Empire. The unique variety of tobacco flavours including apple, raspberry, and banana make it more of a social smoke than habitual. Make sure the shop wraps it up well to withstand the journey home but otherwise, try smoking one in the nargile cafes instead.
The most popular and famous souvenir in Turkey is the blue evil eye, also known as Nazar Boncuk. It is also the most authentic item you can buy because Turks use it widely in their homes and offices and give it as a present to a newborn baby. Souvenir shops sell the blue evil eye in many forms including amulets, keyrings, bookmarks, jewellery, ceramic items, and lapel badges.
Many people think gold is cheaper in Turkey but it is just of a higher carat than gold sold in countries like the UK. Gold is also a big thing in the country because Turks traditionally give it as a gift at weddings.
Gold shops in Turkey are called Kuyumcu, and if you visit the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, there are plenty of them. Just remember to bargain on the price. Excellently constructed to a high standard and made from glass and brass, hanging Turkish mosaic lamps are eye-catching. They are not ideal for lighting a room but perfect for setting an atmospheric mood.
With a variety of colours such as emerald or ruby, prices are expensive but skilled artisans create each one by hand. If you buy one, ask the shop to package it up well so that it withstands pressure in your suitcase.
Turkish ceramics date from the 8 th century, when Islamic art was the main reason for producing it, especially in tiles for walls and ceilings of mosques. Since then, modern factory ceramics outpriced the traditional handmade versions, yet places like Iznik and Kutahya still have a historical reputation as the best producers of the delicate art.
Extensive pistachio plantations are located in the province of Antalya. You can buy nuts in bazaars and some markets by weight. Pistachios are often found in stores, which can be distinguished by their green packaging. It is a tasty snack from abroad and is a good gift for someone who likes salty nuts. Turkish coffee is presented in a wide range in any supermarket or bazaar.
The cost of a gram package is liras. The best tea in Turkey is harvested on the Rize plantation. You can distinguish them from the Rize inscription on the packs. Turkish people drink tea from tulip shape glasses. Such a set can also be purchased as a gift. Available in supermarkets and on bazaars. Wines in Turkey are mostly made from berries and fruit - blackberries, pomegranates, peaches.
Many varieties are sweet, with a strong aroma and strong flavour. Branch most common among women, who often bring natural cosmetics from Turkey. Natural oils, rose water, clay masks, and hand-made soaps are especially popular. The recommendation for experienced tourists is to shop at pharmacies. Many cosmetics in Turkey are made with us of olive oil. Shampoos and body balms are produced under the Dalan D'Olive brand. A distinctive feature of the products is the absence of silicones and paraben in the ingredients.
Rosen produces cosmetics based on rose essence. The product line includes body lotions, shampoos, and washing gels. Rosewater is especially popular with tourists, it can effectively moisturise the skin and normalize the acid-base balance. Women often buy the body and face masks based on volcanic clay and algae. The products have strong healing properties and have a rejuvenating effect on the skin.
Usually, those kinds of cosmetics are costly. A good buy are aloe-based creams that do an excellent job to sunburnt places, and effectively moisturise the skin. Turkey is the major cotton producer. Turkish textiles are of high quality: they do not stretch or vanish after washing. Products from less popular local producers are also of high quality.
Good and useful gifts are towels or dressing gowns. It is better to buy them in specialized textile stores. It is profitable to bring woollen bedspreads and blankets from Turkey. Their prices here are 2. Large manufacturers sell their products also in online shops.
Counterfeit medicines in Turkey are severely prohibited. There are no fake products in pharmacies. Vitamins and supplements are being brought from Turkey. In pharmacies, you can find much cheaper and often more effective Turkish counterparts of many famous brands, but under a different name.
Find on the internet the picture of the medicine you are looking for, and check if it's in stock. Healing Mesir paste is an original and delicious souvenir. It has a jelly-like consistency and herbal colour. Made from natural ingredients. The paste contains more than 40 components, including ginger, royal jelly, coriander. Sometimes the product is found in the form of lozenges and candies. Mesir improves immunity and cures respiratory diseases.
You can buy original Mesir only in Turkey. The wonderland of Turkey, cradled between Europe and Asia, is a beacon of Ottoman history, art, and culture. Once you witness the beauty of Turkey in all its glory, it can be hard to leave it behind and get back to the rut of your daily life. To keep you from those withdrawals, we have a list of Turkish souvenirs that we think you must consider buying.
These are sure to spark conversations and act as a magical portal that is reminiscent of the wonders you witnessed in the country. It acts as the perfect benchmark while you shop for coffee to bring back home. On the other hand, the tulip shaped glasses filled with small portions of black tea probably ranks top as the favorite souvenir in the country. We recommend purchasing these glasses from the Northeastern Rize area, widely regarded as the tea capital of Turkey.
Another product that Turkey is widely known for are its exotic handmade carpets and rugs. A word of caution though — while you stroll through the streets of Istanbul, you are bound to be approached by salesmen trying to talk you into purchasing a carpet or a rug from them.
In fact, many will claim their wares are much cheaper than most, and they might be right but the products will probably be one of the many mass produced fakes that have infiltrated the country. While authentic carpets and rugs can be difficult to find and expensive, the effort will be completely worth it. Turkish spices like sumac, paprika, and allspice, add that extra oomph in your dishes. The Turks are aware of this and conveniently sell souvenir packages for you to carry home and cook with.
The spices might get repleted over a couple of dishes, but the containers will act as a reminder of the delicacy it once held.
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