The largest Turkish metropolis, whose ancient walls have been reflected in the blue waters of the Bosphorus for more than 27 centuries, is dear to the hearts of not only fans of historical and cultural attractions. Former Constantinople also attracts fans of authentic shopping. Large department stores, tiny oriental shops and bustling bazaars – all outlets of the incomparable “city of contrasts” offer an impressive assortment of national souvenirs. What to bring from Istanbul as a gift will be discussed today.
Tea
Fragrant ambrosia of rich amber color is an integral part of the country's culture. Here they say: “A conversation without tea is like heaven without a moon.” Although the drink appeared in the country about 5,000 years ago, plantations were planted in the Ottoman Empire only in 1917. The favorable climate did its job: the tea industry developed successfully, and 30 years later the first factory was opened in the province of Rize, producing 60 tons of products daily.
Real tea for the Turks is a strong bitter drink. Locals never change the true taste, because milk or honey added to a cup will not allow you to fully experience the intoxicating aroma and delicate taste of the tea leaf. Powders fragrant with apple, pomegranate, hibiscus or lemon, towering in multi-colored scattering on the counters with sweets, have nothing to do with real Turkish tea. Such drinks are nothing but chemical fizz. There is nothing resembling natural ingredients in its composition.
Tea accessories
Having fallen in love with the national Turkish drink, many people fill their suitcases with treasured packages of tea leaves. However, unlucky tourists will be disappointed: the taste of tea brewed in the usual way does not in any way resemble the divine ambrosia from the homeland of the Janissaries. In order not to get into a mess, bring a two-tier teapot “chaidanlyk”, the principle of which is similar to the functioning of a Russian samovar.
Tea drinking is never complete without armuds. A feature of these graceful vessels is the presence of a heavy bottom and a “waist” – a visible narrowing in the center. Such a pear-shaped shape was not invented by chance – in the expanded upper part, the liquid cools down faster, which reduces the possibility of burns to zero. The standard volume of armud (or, as the Turks call it, “brothel”) is 100 ml.
Most often, a tea glass is made of glass, which allows you to admire the beauty of a fragrant drink. When receiving guests, Turkish hostesses put porcelain or crystal armuds on the table, as well as items decorated with overglaze painting, relief decor or patterns of gold and silver.
Coffee
On the territory of the Ottoman Empire, people started talking about coffee in the 16th century, when Ozdemir Pasha, the beylerbey of Yemen, treated Suleiman the Magnificent to a fragrant drink. The sultan liked the invigorating nectar so much that he introduced the position of chief coffee maker at the court. The divine potion quickly won the love of the people. Until the end of the 19th century, only raw green grains were sold in the country.
In 1871 the situation changed. Mehmet Efendi, the owner of the Kurukahveci coffee shop, offered customers finely ground roasted beans for the first time. Soon, queues began to line up at the store, and in the 30s of the 20th century, a new brand Mehmet Efendi appeared on the world market. Today, the brand is represented by several lines of grain and ground coffee, each type of which is a blend of 3-7 different varieties.
We recommend buying famous brand products in Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi brand stores. Little has changed here in 150 years. The beans are manually roasted and ground in huge coffee grinders in front of numerous visitors. The price of a fragrant powder (500 g) packed in a paper bag is 27.5 lire.
Cezva
In order to brew real Turkish coffee, it is not enough just to buy Mehmet Efendi products. To prepare the “right” drink, you need a cezve (Turk) – a conical container tapering upwards with a wide bottom and a long handle. The best vessels are made of copper, a metal with high electrical and thermal conductivity. In such a dish, the liquid is heated evenly, the ground grains have time to give up their rich aroma and rich taste.
Turkish coffee is a capricious drink, its preparation requires certain skills. Warm up the bottom of the cezve. Then pour 60 ml of water (filtered or bottled) into the vessel and pour in two teaspoons of coffee ground to a state of flour. Immerse the Turk in hot sand, in the absence of it, put it on the stove, setting it to low power. Remove the pan from the heat when the foam rises to the edges, leaving a small speck in the center. Don't let it boil! Pour the finished coffee into a warmed cup. Do not start tasting right away – let the drink brew for 2-3 minutes, during which time the thick will have time to settle to the bottom.
Oriental sweets
National Turkish desserts are a gift that sweet-toothed friends will be delighted with. Delicious delicacies are divided into three groups:
For chocolate lovers, we advise you to direct your steps to Istiklal Street (İstiklâl Caddesi), where Meşhur Beyoğlu Çikolatacısı is located in house No. 69. You will recognize a tiny inconspicuous shop in turn from those who want to buy fragrant tiles and sweets wrapped in silver paper. Since 1952, chocolate has been made here, which is not inferior in quality to French and Belgian counterparts.
Honey and jam
The country of fragrant flowers, endless cotton fields and mild climate could not fail to become one of the four world leaders in honey production. “Amber gold”, used in cooking, medicine and cosmetology, is revered as a sacred product. The Prophet Muhammad himself urged believers to be attentive to two medicines: the Koran and honey.
Only in Turkey you can taste the unique honeydew (pine) honey. An exotic product is harvested in the vicinity of the city of Marmaris, surrounded by coniferous forests. Fragrant golden-brown delicacy is known for its beneficial properties: it stimulates metabolic processes, promotes the removal of toxins, improves liver function, prevents anemia and improves body tone.
Another healthy sweet is rose petal jam. In its preparation, only the buds of young plants are used. Fragrant and surprisingly delicate dessert in the country is called “gülbesheker”, which translates as “beautiful, like rose jam.”
Olive oil
Olive oil, which the locals call “adult breast milk”, is at the top of the list of the most popular products. They are not only seasoned with salads – “liquid gold” rich in vitamins and omega acids is used for cooking, used in skin and hair care.
The country produces several dozen varieties of olive oil. According to the consumer rating, the best products are produced by Kristal Naturel Sızma. The oil of the brand, leading its history since 1945, is characterized by low acidity (less than 0.8%). The cost of a 1 liter bottle is about 10 lire.
When choosing a product in a supermarket, pay attention to the color: high-quality olive oil should have a slight greenish tint. A gray tint indicates that the product is made from overripe fruits. Also, look for the label “soğuk sıkım” (extra virgen) on the packaging. This label guarantees that you are buying virgin olive oil made from hand-picked olives.
Cheese
Even experienced gourmets do not hide their surprise at the sight of a huge selection of local cheese. There are more than 150 varieties in the country. Some of them are able to compete with Italian Parmesan or Dutch Maasdam. The pride of Turkish cheese makers is salty and hard Tulum Peyniri. Proven for centuries, the product is boiled from sheep or goat milk, and then aged for 3-6 months in animal skins.
Another star of the national cuisine is the owner of a rich yellow color, hard Kashar peyniri. It takes up to 10 kg of sheep's or cow's milk to produce a kilogram head of this light (22% fat) cheese. The product is served for breakfast, added to pasta and used in traditional pastries.
There are also moldy cheeses. Fragrant Küflü peyniri is made from Akkaraman sheep and sent to mature in caves for four months. Turkish greetings to German Dor-blue has a bright taste and is the perfect pair for white wine and spirits.
Spices
For skillful housewives who have chosen cooking as their hobby, bring fragrant spices. You should not buy the usual mint, cumin, cloves or cinnamon – you will find them on the shelves of domestic stores. Another thing is rare species:
For spices, head to the Egyptian Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı), located in the historic Eminönü area. Under the domed lead roof housed 80 shops. In addition to spices, tea, nuts, sweets, dried fruits and natural cosmetics, they offer a good selection of medicinal herbs.
Cancer
Representatives of the stronger sex, who know a lot about strong alcohol, can bring crayfish. Many people call this fragrant drink anise vodka, which is not true. Strictly speaking, the national Turkish elixir has little in common with the traditional Russian “little white”. According to the production technology, it rather refers to brandy or unsweetened liquors.
The alcohol base of the crayfish is grape, date or fig distillate. Cake of grapes or fruit raw material is distilled in copper vats. Then the resulting mass is insisted on seeds or anise root, distilled a second time and left to “rest” in oak barrels for a couple of months. As a result, a crystal clear liquid with a strength of 45-50 ° is born into the world.
The drink is served at the table in tall narrow glasses. It is not recommended to drink crayfish in its pure form – it will seem scalding to inexperienced tasters. In order for the insidious potion to turn into wonderful nectar, it is diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 3. The contents of the glass become cloudy, acquiring a milky white color. For this reason, locals often refer to crayfish as “lion's milk”.
pomegranate wine
Pomegranate wine is another drink in the treasury of fans of exotic alcohol. Dense sweet ambrosia with a strength of 8–12 ° has a dark amber color with golden burgundy or rich red tints. The taste palette consists of juiciness of pomegranate juice, slight sourness and a pleasant nutty aftertaste. The best representative of the glorious family of natural Turkish wines is considered to be the products of the company KUTMAN.
A sweet alcoholic drink will not only decorate the table and give a good mood. Drinking wine in moderation, which contains the powerful antioxidant punicalagin, may reduce your chances of developing cardiovascular disease. In addition, the noble nectar contains folic and linoleic acids, which can activate blood circulation and protect body cells from the effects of viruses and pathogenic bacteria.
Pomegranate wine is served at the table at the end of the meal. Before drinking, the drink is cooled to 12–14 ° C. Small tulip-shaped port glasses or Madeira glasses are suitable for tasting. Fruits, ice cream, cakes, strudel, croissants will help you fully appreciate the taste of a discreet tart elixir. Those who avoid sweets choose nuts, olives, blue cheeses as snacks.
Nazar Bonjuk
Wherever you go, he will follow you everywhere – a round white and blue disk, on which a pattern in the form of an eye is applied. This is a popular amulet in the East from envy and evil thoughts, the name of which, Nazar bonjuk, is translated from Arabic as “a bead from the evil eye.” They decorate rooms with it, put it in shop windows, attach it to clothes and diapers of newborns, wear it as jewelry and give it to loved ones.
Nazar bonjuk (also called the “Eye of Fatima”) has a long history. Amulets resembling an open human eye existed in ancient Egypt. But even today people believe in the magical power of the talisman. In Turkey, they believe that he removes the evil eye and damage from his master, gives mutual love and financial well-being.
Nazar Boncuğu is not only a traditional amulet, but also the most popular Turkish souvenir. From small beads and key chains to bracelets, necklaces and patterned wall hangings, evil eye talismans are sold wherever there are tourists. The most popular models are made of blown glass; The cost of such amulets varies from 1 to 10 $. The price of the Eye of Fatima, set in a gold frame, starts at $15.
Figurines and postcards with the image of cats
The best souvenir for avid cat lovers will be a cute little thing depicting a four-legged object of their passion. Magnets, pictures, key chains, funny signs, bags and animal figurines are presented here in great abundance. And no wonder, because the largest metropolis of Turkey is known as one of the world's cat capitals.
In the East, cats have always been treated with deep respect. In Islam, graceful creatures are revered as sacred animals, allowing them to be inside mosques. Faithful Muslims cherish the memory of the snow-white Muezza, the favorite pet of Muhammad, who, according to the Koran, saved the prophet from the bite of a poisonous snake. Istanbul cats are full-fledged city dwellers. They are everywhere: in poor neighborhoods and on squares glittering with neon lights, next to shop windows and at the doors of museums. Quadrupeds know no shortage of food. Citizens constantly feed their pets, leave bowls of water on the streets and build houses out of cardboard boxes. One of the fluffy creatures – the homeless minion Tombili – was even immortalized in bronze.
Iznik ceramics
140 km from the city is located founded in 316 BC. city of Iznik. Here, in the workshops on the shores of the lake of the same name, at the end of the 15th century, they began to produce elegant ceramic dishes, vases, jugs, as well as marvelous tiles, which to this day adorn the Blue Mosque and the harem rooms of the Topkapi Palace. Incessant wars and economic decline of the XVII-XVIII centuries. led to the cessation of the manufacture of ceramics. The first place was intercepted by products from neighboring Kutahya, whose artisans never reached the heights of the art of Iznik potters.
The ceramic masterpieces from Iznik, which have survived centuries, are characterized by strength, brilliance, resistance to thermal effects and magnificent painting in terms of elegance. The favorite elements of the ornament are birds of paradise, intricately intertwined stems, plant leaves and a tulip, a sacred flower of the Ottoman dynasty and a symbol of modern Turkey.
Authentic Iznik ceramics belong to the category of cultural treasures of the country. However, replicas of brightly painted plates are sold in large quantities in the bazaars. When choosing a souvenir, pay attention to its quality – there should be no cracks or chips on the glaze.
National costumes
If your friends dream about the heroes of the Magnificent Age series, bring them traditional clothes as a gift. The Turkish national costume was formed in the middle of the 6th century. Robes were made from light natural fabrics: linen, silk or cotton.
The basis of women's attire is entari – a long dress of bright colors. Often a shalwar is worn under it – wide at the waist and thin trousers tapering downwards. The men's suit is more restrained. It is dominated by green, blue and black shades. Integral elements are a striped or white kais shirt and a swing vest worn over it, belted with a sash.
A complete set of details of a national costume is not a cheap pleasure; its price in the markets rarely drops below $80. If the budget is tight, and you want to surprise your friends with an exotic souvenir, take a closer look at the individual parts of traditional clothing. Tassel-decorated red fezzes cost $5–10, while multicolored Yemeni shoes with long upturned toes cost about $20.
Dervish figurine
Under the quiet viscous sounds of the flute and drum, five dancers are circling in a mystical flight, detached and smoothly. Their eyes are closed, their heads are bowed in high hats, long snow-white skirts rise in a swaying dome. In silent prayer, the right hand is extended to the sky with the palm up, the left – with the palm down. Those who have seen the mysterious movements of the dervishes at least once in their lives will never forget them.
Amazing dance is not just an exciting show. Continuous rotations are an appeal to God, a method of prayer created in the 13th century by the Melvevi Sufi order. His followers, the dervish monarchs, who preached the rejection of worldly goods and their own “ego”, achieved spiritual perfection through silent contemplation and meditative whirling.
The ritual of the Mevleri order can be seen not only in the city of Konya, where this mesmerizing dance originated. Every Sunday at 17:00, an unforgettable show begins at the Galata Mevlevihanesi Museum. The performance includes prayer and the sema ceremony. If you have fallen under the spell of the wrapping action, buy a figurine depicting a whirling dervish as a keepsake.
Mosaic lamps
It is one of the most striking impressions on tourists that is produced by pendant lamps of various shapes and sizes. The art of making iridescent lamps, evoking thoughts of luxurious palaces and fairy tales of Scheherazade, originated in Anatolia about 6,000 years ago. Flickering plafonds artisans assembled from hundreds of pieces of multi-colored glass, inserting their creations into a filigree metal frame.
Modern technology has contributed to the manufacture of magic lanterns. Today, the mysterious subdued light is emitted not by candles, but by electric bulbs. However, this innovation does not prevent multi-colored lamps from creating a mysterious atmosphere of the East in the house, transferring you to the enchanting “Magnificent Age”.
When buying a mosaic lamp, make sure that the metal parts are made of brass or copper. Plastic talks about import from China or mass production. Minor inaccuracies in the decoration of the ceiling are not a sign of a lack of quality. A slight inconsistency of the glass pieces indicates that the product is made by hand.
Hookah
Hookahs, or as they are called in Turkey “nargile”, have owned the hearts of the subjects of the Ottoman Empire since the 17th century. Inviting a guest to enjoy fragrant smoke in eastern houses was considered a good form rule, refusal was perceived as a mortal insult. In the 19th century, cigars appeared, and the demand for narguila began to decline. Interest in the exotic smoking vessel resurfaced only after 1990.
A real narghile is not only a smoking device, but also an interior decoration. The markets offer hookahs of various colors and sizes. But be careful when choosing a souvenir at the bazaar – the risk of buying a product with the inscription “Made in Taiwan” is too high. You can't go wrong if you look for quality products under the brands Elmas Nargile, El Nefes and Tekdemir. The price starts from $30.
A good hookah requires the right tobacco. Well-known brands – Adalya, Tanya, Al Saha, Serbetli, Ayisigi – present about 100 variations of aromatic products to the buyers' judgment. The classic and most purchased variety is apple, it has high smokiness, good flavor and the ability to mix with tobaccos from other manufacturers.
Clothing and accessories made of leather and fur
Shopping is rarely complete without visiting stores, the range of which is replete with leather and fur products. Products of Turkish brands have no competitors in terms of the ratio between price and quality. There are 13 industrial zones engaged in dressing skins. About 75% of fur velor and suede sold in the world are produced in the country.
If you set out to buy a quality product that will last for many years, go to Derimod, Yıldız Deri, Revani, Punto, Deri Sarayi stores. They are located in the “kingdom of fur and leather” – the Zeytinburnu region. Here you will find goods for every taste and budget: from a modest leather vest to a luxurious chinchilla fur coat. Didn't fit the size or didn't like the style? No problem! Local tailors will sew the item of your dreams in a couple of days and deliver it to your hotel for free.
Do not hesitate if the initial cost of the model you like seems overpriced. Salespeople are masters of commercial negotiation. Actively bargain, while not forgetting about a smile and a friendly attitude. This will help to reset the starting price by 35-65%.
Carpets
They say that a real hostess will never give up three things: tea in the closet, feta cheese in the refrigerator and a carpet on the floor. If the opinion of oriental women is close to you, include a traditional woven product in your shopping list. Local artisans produce their patterned creations from viscose, silk or wool, using only natural dyes in their work. Regardless of the material, Turkish carpets are highly durable and dense.
The sale of carpets always turns into a mini-show. It's hard to resist buying when the salespeople, who have achieved a high degree of skill in their trade, spin the product in the air with fantastic speed and then spread it on the floor, creating incredible patterns. Each woven masterpiece has an original ornament. Depending on the density, material, size and method of production, the cost of quality products ranges from $80 to $5,000.
Important! If you want to buy an antique handmade carpet, take a certificate from the store containing information about the age of the goods. Remember that the export of products older than 100 years without special permission from the authorities is prohibited.
gold jewelry
Gold has been loved in the country since time immemorial. Suleiman the Magnificent, a connoisseur of beauty, personally made elegant bracelets, necklaces and pendants decorated with an intricate oriental pattern for his beloved wife Roksolana. And today, precious metal products are considered the best present. For weddings, they always give the so-called “republican gold” – coins of various weights that can be bought and then sold in jewelry stores.
The main advantage of Turkish jewelry made of precious metal is their affordable cost. The fact is that local jewelers rarely use gold of the highest (24 ct) standard in their work. To reduce the price, in the manufacture of products, craftsmen practice the use of alloys with silver or copper.
Jewelry dots are innumerable. However, you should not buy jewelry at the bazaar – sometimes, under the guise of gold, unscrupulous sellers offer tompak – an alloy of copper and zinc. It is almost impossible to distinguish such a fake from real metal. Don't be fooled by the pleasant market prices. For certified goods, go to ZenDiamond, Pink Gold Store, Storks, Altınbaş, Cetaş stores.
Oil-based perfumes
Walking through the streets of the Sultanahmet district or looking at the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, you will surely see small shops with the Parfüm sign. Inside, dozens of glass bottles are crowded on numerous shelves, which contain a fragrant liquid created on the basis of essential and base oils.
The main feature of oil perfumes is the absence of alcohol in the composition, which makes them incredibly persistent. One drop on the wrist – and the intoxicating train will accompany its mistress throughout the day. Interestingly, the intensity of the perfume is fully revealed with movement and an increase in body temperature. At rest and in cold rooms, the odor concentration decreases.
You should not buy such products as a gift for fans of light fresh scents – oily perfume has an enveloping thick aroma that takes you back to the times of languid Sultan's concubines and fragrant palace incense burners. The composition of such perfumes contains rich oriental notes of sandalwood, agarwood, saffron, tuberose, vanilla, musk, orchid, myrtle and amber.
Cosmetics
Even if your dressing table is filled with jars and bottles of various sizes, do not ignore cosmetics with natural ingredients. Popular local brands Dalan d'Olive, Thalia, Unice, Bioscha offer creams, gels, serums, lotions, masks and hair products based on olive oil and other beneficial ingredients: fruit extracts, healing clay, hyaluronic acid.
The visiting card of the cosmetic market is rose water. It not only cleanses the skin, but also improves complexion, rejuvenates the epidermis, tightens pores and relieves irritation. The palm among the producers of this fragrant beauty elixir is confidently held by the Rosense company, which has its own plantations for growing the queen of flowers.
Fans of organic cosmetics will not pass by olive, pomegranate or pistachio soap. Rectangular handmade bars, the composition of which is enriched with essential oils and herbal extracts, lie in close rows on the shelves of stores. There is also an exotic beldi soap. This thick dark brown paste is used in hammams to exfoliate the skin.
Hammam sets
The word “hammam” in Arabic means “warm place”. The traditional steam room differs from the “colleagues” saunas by its comfortable temperature (35–50 °C) and high humidity, reaching 100%. The healing properties of the hammam have been known since the 10th century. The ancient healer Avicenna claimed that visiting the bath stimulates blood circulation, relieves excess weight, saves from insomnia and nervous disorders.
Of course, in a city apartment it is impossible to reproduce the relaxing atmosphere of a hammam. But why not improve the condition of the skin using the simple accessories of Turkish bath attendants? In the markets, you will find a variety of kits, including scented soap, pumice, foam bag and kese – a device for cleansing the skin.
Those who have used kese at least once forget about the existence of special peeling gels and creams forever. A mitten made from natural materials works wonders by removing dead skin cells and improving blood flow. The principle of operation is very simple: put the kese on your hand, rub the steamed body with massaging movements and enjoy the delightful smoothness of the skin.
Textile
If there is still space left in your suitcase, fill it with products from Turkish textile manufacturers. Terry bathrobes, home suits, blankets, towels, bedspreads, bed linen: all this is sold at very attractive prices. The best in the segment are products from Boyner Ev, Taç, Özdilek, Mudo Concept.
Soul requires exotic? Then pay attention to the peshtemal. Without this fringed thin cotton towel, it is impossible to imagine a visit to the hammam. Peshtemal is pleasant to the touch, perfectly absorbs moisture and dries quickly. Despite their large size (approximately 90×180), bath towels are very compact and weigh only 300–350 g.
Fans of economical shopping should take a closer look at local brands. Buying clothes from LC Waikiki, Adilisik, Koton, Mavi, Seçil, Armine brands will not harm the budget. The quality of goods is often not inferior to European, and the prices are democratic. So, jeans will cost an average of 200 liras, knitwear – 300 liras, dresses – 250 liras, skirts and trousers – 180 liras.
What cannot be exported
Istanbul is truly the promised land for those who appreciate fruitful shopping. But in a dizzying shopping frenzy, don't forget about Turkish customs regulations.
It is strictly forbidden to export from the territory of the country:
It is allowed to transport alcohol (no more than 5 liters) and hookah tobacco (no more than 2 kg) across the border. Although tea, coffee, spices and sweets are officially banned for export, in practice customs officials turn a blind eye to the presence of a small amount of these goods in the luggage of tourists. Make sure that the price of purchased souvenirs does not exceed $ 1,000, jewelry – $ 15,000, food – 100 lira.