By A.J. Griffiths-Jones – When coming to a Turkish resort for an annual summer holiday many tourists naturally like to buy something to take home from their travels, a reminder of the culture, food or customs that they’ve experienced while here.
Of course, many visitors, especially the younger generation, like to head to the huge indoor markets where you can buy designer-style bags, shoes, football shirts and clothing at cheap prices, but there is so much more on offer if you look.
A great treat to share with family back home is lokum, or Turkish Delight, which comes in many different varieties. It’s so much tastier than the chocolate-covered commercial version that we get in European supermarkets.
Don’t be tempted to buy the pre-packaged sweets that are small and cheap, instead head for local markets to find fresh squares of this treat that you can mix together in one box and pay per kilo. It’s far more satisfying and the different flavours will surprise you. Many stallholders will allow you to try first, ensuring you find your favourites.
Cevizli Sucuk, Turkish Walnut Churchkhela, is also wonderful to share, with walnuts inside a delicious sticky molasses coating made from grape or pomegranate. It’s created by threading the walnuts onto string & looks like a long sausage when dried, hence the name.
Spices are also best bought directly from a market, by the scoop, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Smoked black chilli, sumac & cumin will all enhance any slow-cooked dish. If you’ve never tried adding dried rose buds to a tagine, try it, the result is incredible as they take away the sharp tang that tinned tomatoes usually leave.
If you want to buy something Turkish for your home, the possibilities are endless. Kilims, tapestry-woven rugs, are light and smaller ones easily fold up to fit into a regular suitcase. They come in thousands of individual designs and colour combinations, so you’re bound to find one to suit your own taste.
The mosaic lanterns and ceiling lights are incredibly beautiful & many shops sell them with electrical fittings, so you’ll just need to change the plug when you are ready to use. They are not so easy to carry, but most vendors will carefully bubble-wrap your purchases ready for the flight.
Ceramics are a great way to remember your visit to Turkiye, too, with shops stocking everything from spoon rests to wall hangings. Traditional hand-painted serving bowls will add a splash of colour to your dinner table and make a great talking point for guests.
If you’re looking for something that little bit more special, why not opt for a handmade leather bag or piece of jewellery. Many local shops sell different types of gold, from 14 carat to 24 carat, and silver is becoming ever more popular. It’s also worth remembering that gold is a good investment, so you can trade in old pieces which will be weighed and their value calculated in order to purchase something new.
The ‘Evil-Eye’ features in many designs on bracelets, necklaces and earrings, as well as glass and porcelain, and is very pretty with its distinctive blue and white theme, although it’s worth knowing that traditionally you should buy this style for someone else and not yourself, for good luck and protection.
Ladies will also find a great choice of linen clothing here, especially in local markets. If you don’t want to spend a fortune but want a little token gift to take home for friends, there are some amazing body lotions, oils and soaps in Turkiye. Many are made from goat’s milk or olive oil but there are also some amazing products made from aloe vera, avocado, mandarin oil, tea tree and lemon.
If you prefer an experience to remember, rather than a physical memento, try a hamam, or Turkish bath, where you can experience a full-body massage, scrub and foam to relax tired muscles, followed by time in a steam room.
There are also several restaurants locally that serve Testi Kebab, a meat-casserole which is slow-cooked inside a clay-pot and served flaming at your table. You will need to check where this is available and the price but for a special occasion it’s well worth a try. Some places will allow you to cut off the top of the pot with a replica Turkish sabre and traditional dancing, where everyone gets up on the floor, will follow.
However you decide to remember your trip, shop savvy and look around as there are so many great shops down small side streets and off the beaten track that it’s worth taking a day to find that very special item to take home.