My Christmas shopping did not involve last-minute trips to an overcrowded mall or waiting in line to buy the new must-have toy at some megastore.
No way!
This year, just like last year, all of our gifts for our family and friends are from our travels in Turkey and a few from Singapore. I�m proud to promote Turkey as much as I can, and I�d much rather buy a gift that means something than the typical commercial rubbish.
It probably would come as no surprise that many of our Christmas gifts are related to food. So here�s a rundown of the many handcrafted, beautiful and edible items you can bring back from Istanbul like I did.
Hopefully, our family members, who may be reading this, won�t figure out what they are getting for Christmas this year!
1. Lokum (Turkish Delights) and Baklava � Fortunately, we live near G�ll�oglu Baklavaci , and I bought a few boxes right before I left Istanbul. Lokum is a sweet, chewy confection made from sugar and starch. This treat comes in a variety of fruit flavors and traditional rose and is usually studded with nuts. This new box I picked up was pomegranate flavored � my seasonal favorite � and dredged in coconut flakes! I highly recommend it!
2. Candied chestnuts � On many street corners in Istanbul, vendors sell freshly roasted/grilled chestnuts from their small, portable stands. Chestnuts also are shelled, cooked and cooled down in a sugary syrup like the ones in this jar, pictured. These can be found at G�ll�oglu Baklavaci and other high-end pastry shops in Istanbul.
3. Dried spices and teas � If you enjoy cooking or have cooks on your Christmas list, then you must include a visit to the Misir �arsisi. This is one of my favorite culinary spots in all of Istanbul. My friends over at Ucuzcular, No. 51, always have what I need, and they seal the plastic bags for traveling; or you can order online and have them shipped home.
4. Tavla (backgammon) � If you know anyone who likes to play this fun game, this is a great gift to barter for at the Grand Bazaar. I brought a dark-stained walnut wood one back for a friend in NY that also featured checkers on one side. Jason and I often enjoy playing tavla while enjoying a glass of Efes in Istanbul.
5. Turkish towels � Turkish towels can be found at many shops, but for the best quality and service you must stop at Jennifer�s Hamam at the Arasta Bazaar behind the Ayasofya or Stephanie�s Home Spa near the Galata Tower. Both stores are owned by a Canadian and an American woman, respectively. Jennifer�s shop also features a nice selection of bath robes, duvet covers and more while Stephanie features towels and olive oil soap.
6. Turkish olive oil and olives � From our August trip to Cunda Adasi, we picked up several bottles of fresh Turkish extra virgin olive oil and jars of olives. I kept a few bottles for myself, but some lucky family members will be getting some soon.
7. Olive wood cheese trays and bowls � Speaking of olives, I recently found these adorable cheese trays and small bowls made from olive wood sold at Kursat, Sakayik Sokak No. 57/1, in Nisantasi in Istanbul. This family-owned shop also features high-quality olive oil and olives from the Ayvalik region. I liked these trays so much that I bought one of each for our own home.
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| I love these! They also are reasonably priced at 10 tl for the boards and 7.50 tl for the bowls. |
9. Jewelry � At the Grand Bazaar, you can find many stalls that sell gold, silver, beaded and evil-eye themed jewelry. I prefer to pop into the Old Bedestan area, especially to see my friend Selim at no. 218/219. His selection is impeccable! Every time I do stop in, I can�t resist buying a pair of earrings for myself!
10. T-shirts � This is always an easy gift to get for my friends� children, cousins and even some of the male adults on our list. It�s hard to bring back Turkish gifts for guys so T-shirts seem to be a good option, and they pack well in suitcases.
Other popular gifts on my list are ceramics, specifically from Tarik Bey at the �ukur Han in the Grand Bazaar, and books about Turkey and Istanbul. Since my dad�s health doesn�t allow him to travel anymore, I bought him a book showing him all the beautiful and historic sites in Istanbul. This way he can still "travel."
Even if you can�t visit Istanbul before Christmas, you can use this handy gift guide for future trips to my second �home.�
Happy shopping!
Joy