If there is no place for new magnets on the door of your refrigerator, and plates with resort photos have formed a whole service, we offer you to look at the culture of Turkish souvenirs from a different angle.
It's time to go on a shopping tour in Turkey!
Souvenirs on a grand scale
Carpets
Annoying sellers from shops with bright carpets often scare away tourists from buying textiles, but do not bypass all the shops with carpets. Turkish carpets are famous for their history and quality. They are often made of silk, many are created exclusively by hand, but you should understand that such a souvenir will cost a tidy sum.
The main thing is to choose carefully so as not to buy a fake. The carpet must have a certificate, and you should also pay attention to how the seller behaves with his goods. The owner of handmade carpets will never halve the price and walk on carpets with his feet.
The cost of a carpet 2×3 m – about 300-500 lire, but handmade carpets already cost 1,000 lira.
Photo: antalya- shopping.com
Lamps
A Turkish lamp will help create a real oriental fairy tale at home. They are collected from broken pieces of glass or from dried pumpkins! The price of such a Turkish souvenir depends on the complexity of the work: from 40 to 150 liras. But even the most expensive ones are worth the money!
They fit perfectly into almost any interior (after all, the color and size can be different) and add an oriental flavor to the room.
Photo: resortturkey.ru
Dishes and ceramics
Ceramic craft in Turkey originates in VIII century. You can find painted plates, mugs, bowls and vases for every taste and price. Many tourists associate this country with the bizarre patterns of its ceramics, so a few small bowls for only 3-4 lira will always remind you of your trip.
By the way, many interesting craft workshops can be found in Cappadocia. It is better to go here with a guide who will tell you more about this unusual region of Turkey.
Photo: files.travellist. ua
Small souvenirs
Rose water and rose petal jam
For lovers of cosmetics, we bring rose water as a gift. It is believed that the refreshing pink tonic – this is a real “elixir of youth”. It is excellent:
- mattifies,
- moisturizes,
- refreshes the skin.
Please note that on the product must be marked “100% saf gül suyu”, this guarantees you a natural composition.
The cost of rose water for 250 ml is about 20-30 lire.
For those with a sweet tooth, be sure to bring rose petal jam with a pleasant and unusual taste. The Turks themselves like to spread it on crispy toast during breakfast.
A small jar of rose jam will cost only 18-20 lira.
Photo: cdn.lifehacker.ru
Lemon cologne
In many shops and even restaurants in Turkey, you can notice a small bottle of clear water at the entrance. It's a lemon cologne. They are not perfumed, but rinsed hands to cool, disinfect the skin and feel a pleasant aroma.
A small bottle can easily fit in any bag and will be a useful and pleasant little thing both at home and on future travels. It's also a great gift from Turkey for friends!
Photo: holidayhomesclub.ru
Delicious bonus
Knafe, baklava, sherbet
Even those who have never been to Turkey are probably familiar with the mild taste of Turkish Delight. This dessert is very popular among gastronomy tourists, primarily because it is easy to transport and has a relatively long shelf life.
Other Turkish sweets, such as knafe and baklava, become stale over time, but you will definitely surprise your guests with them and prolong the sweet feeling (and taste!) of your vacation for a couple more days after arrival. We advise you to buy these products in the markets or in special pastry shops in order to avoid tasteless and stale sweets in Duty Free or tourist areas.
The price for baklava starts from 70 lira per kg, for sherbet – from 25 lire, for kozinaki – from 70 lire
Spices
Countless spices on the shelves – a distinctive feature of all eastern markets. Many spices are cheaper here than in Russia, so people often buy them for future use. If you want to one day cook a real Turkish dinner in your homeland, be sure to look at:
- sumac spices (for salads);
- black cumin (for savory pastries);
- isosky pepper (for hot);
- Antepe hot pepper, which the Turks add to almost all dishes.
A gift set with spices can be found in local markets for 25 lira.
Photo: i1.wp.com
Anise tincture and pomegranate wine
After the establishment of Islam in the country, the production of alcohol abruptly stopped, so it is not worth comparing Turkish wine products with what they drink in Europe. However, local pomegranate wine can please even gourmets! Sweet, slightly tart and fragrant, it makes you dizzy and allows you to mentally transport yourself to lush gardens by the sea.
Price per bottle 0.75 l – 45 lira.
Anise tincture also has a very exotic taste. It is made from grapes, dates, figs and other fruits flavored with anise. Buying a small bottle of drink at home, you can remember spicy evenings in Turkish restaurants at any time.
Strong alcohol is more expensive than wine, so for 0.7 anisette vodka you will have to pay more than 80 lire.
Photo: forumsamogon.ru
When choosing a souvenir, it is important to always remember that it should not be “colorful” collect dust on the shelves at home, but remind you of past moments.
Choose practical and atmospheric gifts, then the memories of author's tours will live with you for a very long time!