Souvenirs are the inevitable shopping items that people buy abroad. It is both a great memory for us to remember the country we visited and a great gift to please our loved ones. Make sure to get the following souvenirs when you are travelling around the country.
Turkish Delight (Lokum)
Turkish delights are a gelatinous sweet confection traditionally made of syrup and cornflower, dusted with icing sugar and added with nuts or fruits. Popular flavours include pistachio, rosewater, cinnamon, orange, and lemon.
Turkish Tea (Cay)
The original Turkish tea is a variant of black tea and consumed straight without milk. It is traditionally prepared in a special kettle, called a çaydanlık. Over the years, variations of herbal tea have become popular in Turkey, especially among tourists.Popular flavours include apple, rose hip, linden flower, pomegranate, and hibiscus.
Turkish Coffee (Turk Kahve)
There is a famous Turkish proverb that says when tasted, Turkish coffee should be “as black as hell, strong as death, and as sweet as love”. It is not only something that you should try in Turkey, but also one of the items you should take home to your friends and family!
Turkish Copper Coffee Pot (Cezve)
If you are a coffee drinker or you are looking for a gift for someone who is, this could be a great choice. Since you are bringing home some Turkish coffee, why not getting the coffee pot as well? The coffee brewed in a Turkish coffee pot tastes better in comparison with using your coffeemaker at home. The traditional copper coffee pot probably ranks top as the favourite souvenir in the country.
Turkish Spices
Turkey is one of the countries that have distinct flavour in its cuisine, thanks to the spices that help enhance the aroma and taste. Either sold separately or in small decorative boxes, it is something that is easy to pack and lasts a long time. Popular Turkish spices include sumac, paprika, and allspice. Even if you do not cook Turkish food, you can still use them for all your home meals, which adds extra new tastes to your food.
Turkish Ceramics
A craft that has its roots dating all the back to the 8th-century, ceramics were originally produced and popularized for Islamic art, being used extensively for walls, tiles and even the ceilings in the decoration of mosques. After admiring the Iznik tiles in Topkapi Palace and Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, you might find yourself wanting to bring home something from this inspired art form. There are different kinds of ceramic products such as bowls, coasters, plates, mugs, ashtrays, vases and many more.
Turkish Carpets and Rugs
Another product that Turkey is widely known for are its exotic handmade carpets and rugs. These beautifully designed carpets and rugs can be hung on the wall or used for its original function. If you have no place in the luggage to carry a Turkish carpet, you can consider buying Turkish pillow cases with traditional patterns.
Blue Evil Eye (Nazar Boncugu)
The Blue Evil Eye, known as the Nazar Boncugu, is used as an amulet to ward off evil or bad luck. The ancient talisman is not just a souvenir but used by many Turks in their cars, homes and offices. Buy it in the form of keyrings, bracelets, badges or trinkets to hang at home. It is one of the most popular souvenir items from Turkey.
Water Pipes (Nargile)
Nargile, also called Turkish smoking pipe, are sold in many different sizes. The glass bottles are colourful and the attached metal pipe, along with the hose, create an interesting shape. The unique variety of tobacco flavours include apple, raspberry, banana and many more. Most people buy them purely for decorative purposes, but you can also opt for the flavoured fruit smokes as well.
Mosaic Lanterns
Another exquisite product you are bound to run into multiple times on your visit to Turkey – The mosaic lanterns, which are made with mosaic glass and come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colours. Once you see their beautiful designs, you might find it hard to resist the idea of buying one.
