If you’re wondering what to buy in Turkey, continue reading to see the best gifts and souvenirs you can get for your family and friends from Turkey.
Turkish Carpets
Surely one of the most popular products made in Turkey are carpets. These beautiful crafts, also referred to Anatolian rugs, are gorgeous keepsakes that have a great practical purpose in your homes as well. You can find these quintessentially Turkish crafts all over the country. These carpets can be used as floor carpets, but they can also be used as gorgeous wall coverings for decoration (which means they’ll probably last longer).
During your vacation in Turkey, you’ll probably meet carpet salesmen, but remember to make sure you’re buying authentic products. Since full-size Turkish carpets are too big to carry in your suitcase, many carpet stores in Turkey provide you the service of shiping your carpet to your home.
Turkish Coffee
One thing that is so ingrained into Turkish culture is coffee. Drinking coffee is nothing less than a ritual in this country, and lovers of the black beverage will find themselves in absolute coffee heaven here.
If you are a coffee lover, don’t leave Turkey without a bag of Turkish coffee. It is one of the best things to buy in Turkey for sure, whether you are taking it for yourself or for your beloved ones.
In addition to that, a real cup of Turkish coffee is must be made in a traditional Turkish coffee pot, so get one of those, too.
The Evil Eye
Everywhere you go in Turkey, you will see the Evil Eye. It is easily one of the most widespread Turkish items you can find in any traditional bazar. With its dark blue background and teardrop-shaped white, light blue, and black eye, this ancient glass talisman was used in Turkish culture to ward off bad luck and evil spirits. So technically, contrary to what the name might imply, the Evil Eye is not evil at all, but it’s a very good and positive thing to have.
You can buy the Evil Eye in many forms, from keyrings to badges and bracelets. They are super cheap and also made for great good-luck gifts from Turkey.
Turkish Ceramics
The crafting of stunning ceramics in Turkey dates as far back as the 8th century and grew into a huge industry during the heydays of the Silk Road. Obviously, they’re one of the most traditional Turkish handicrafts you’ll find in the country.
In fact, mosaic and painted ceramics became such a characteristic part of the Turkish culture and many mosques were decorated with them. You’ll see them, for example, at the spectacular Blue Masque and The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul is a great place to buy Turkish ceramics, but you’ll also find these beautiful products in many souvenir shops across Turkey.
Turkish Tea
While Turkey has traditionally been a coffee culture, tea became a more affordable alternative after World War I and the fall of the Ottoman Empire. You can find all kinds of tea in many shops, markets, and bazaars, from regular black and green tea to different types of herbal tea.
Shopping in Turkey almost always includes a cup of tea – so why not bring one back with you?
Turkish Baklava
Baklava is a very old pastry. Many ethnic groups with ancestry going back to the Middle East claim the origin of this luscious pastry. The historical documentation is not solid, yet there is strong evidence that its origin comes from Central Asian Turkic tribes.
It is also known that during the Ottoman Empire, in the imperial kitchens of Topkapi Palace, the current form was developed. And later, in the late 19th century, small pastry shops were opened in Istanbul and the provincial capitals.
You must taste baklava during your stay in Istanbul. The recipe of this delicious sweets may sound too easy to be honest: chopped nuts are spread in between the phyllo (yufka) layers, dressed with butter, baked and sweetened with syrup or honey. But the excellence depends on the quality of the flour, the thinness of the dough (phyllo) and the proportion of the syrup.
Turkish Delight
Arguably one of the most famous things to buy in Turkey, are the delights. They are a fantastic thing to bring home from your trip and share with your friends, family, and colleagues.
This traditional Turkish candy is a type of cubed and colored jelly, which makes for an amazing dessert or treat. They come in a variety of tastes, from gummies to filled with nuts or fruit.
You can find lots of Turkish delight vendors at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul. Usually, you can taste them before you buy. So don’t forget to buy a box or two filled with Turkish delights for your beloved ones back home.
Turkish Spices
Turkey is the land of spices. Although you can buy spices in numerous places in Turkey, but nothing compares to Istanbul’s Grand Bazaar and Spice Market. while moving around these sprawling indoor marketplaces, you’ll immediately notice the scent of spices and herbs floating through the air.
Spices are essential to Turkish cuisine, as well as all over the world. Whether you’re cooking meat, chicken, lamb, fish, or seafood, or even when grilling vegetables, good seasoning is paramount. You’ll literally find every type of spices at the Spice Market and Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
