Instead of a magnet: what spices are worth bringing from Turkey

Everything changes from year to year, and sometimes to get something new, you have to get rid of the old. For example, change the habit of bringing back from a trip only "jewelry" for the refrigerator, which does not leave a free gap.

There are many options for what to take home as a souvenir of a country: a unique rare item, antiques, accessories, or... spices. Yes, yes, because there are places where they are especially appreciated. For example, in colorful Turkey. Besides, it will be a great gift from abroad for your family and friends. Every time they prepare a delicious dinner, the smell will remind them of you and the diversity of oriental culture embodied in spicy spices.

What spices to bring from Turkey

There is a whole range of Turkish herbs that are an indispensable part of the local cuisine. Tourists and locals can buy them at every market.

It's not difficult to find a place that sells such "souvenirs". The tricky part is to choose the ones that you like. Because they can be too spicy or bitter. Not everyone likes this combination. Luckily, vendors are mostly generous, so they will understandably let you taste a product. Of course, if it's not a packaged gift set.

Most often, travelers "hunt" for dried plants. They are appreciated for their unique taste and flavor. These are different varieties of pepper, ginger, cloves, or bay leaves. Customers also love various mixes that make any food a work of culinary art.

• Kofte baharati. Suitable for meat dishes, such as cutlets or steaks. Thanks to the composition of thyme, red pepper and coriander, the dishes acquire new appetizing notes.
• Tavuk baharati. Recommended for adding to meat, especially chicken. The spice includes cumin and turmeric.

• Tarkhana. A well-known complex mixture of dried onions, tomatoes, red peppers, yeast and dry yogurt. The seasoning is a part of Turkish frying of tomato paste and garlic in butter.

• Kuru nane. Powdered mint, often added to omelets.

• Tahin. Be sure to bring sesame seed puree from Turkey. It is put in salads, poured over baked or boiled vegetables (for example, eggplant or sweet potatoes). And if you mix this mousse with pecans, you can get a "quick halva" for dessert.

• Çörek otu is black cumin, the seeds of which are used in savory pastries. It can also be mixed into coffee to add spicy notes to the drink. Rumor has it that the Prophet Muhammad said that the powder from this plant heals any disease except death. And the people of Turkey truly believe this.

• Sumac is a red-burgundy mixture with a special sourness. It turns poultry or fish dishes into a culinary triumph. You can also sprinkle it on salads - it tastes good with fresh, juicy vegetables.

• Saffron is one of the most expensive spices in the world. In Turkish cuisine, the flower has long been used in sweets, as well as to give products a beautiful yellow hue and delicate aroma.

• Antep Pul biber is a flake of hot pepper that grows in the province of Gaziantep. We warn you - it is very hot. But if the fire in your mouth doesn't scare you, feel free to use it.

• Isot biber or Urfa biber (İsot/Urfa biber) is another type of spicy paprika, but this time from the Urfa region of Turkey. When it dries in the sun, it turns a dark maroon, almost black color. When cooked, it resembles the taste of spicy raisins. So if you want variety, be sure to bring it home.

• Baharat - this mixture stands on the Olympus of oriental spices. The right proportions of peppers, cardamom, cloves, coriander, cumin, nutmeg, turmeric, saffron, ginger, etc. are added to it. Anyone who has added the seasoning to lamb, fish, chicken, beef, or soups says that they don't want to eat these dishes without it.

There are also familiar spices that can be easily found in Ukrainian supermarkets or markets. For example, sesame seeds are more appreciated in Turkey than in Ukraine. There are several types of it:

• White is usually used in baking, and it does not need to be processed - it can be eaten in its natural form.
• Black is medicinal. Its seeds contain a lot of calcium. Much more than in refined grains. This type is used to make butter, as well as candies and other goodies.
• Brown sesame seeds are also used to make oil and sweets.

In Turkey, sesame seeds are better known as sousam and can be found on any spice shelf.

Where to buy flavored gifts

The best places to buy spices are not souvenir shops, but locations that only the locals know about. Gifts with packaged spices are often stale or not made with integrity. They have a beautiful wrapper, but not so good content.

Therefore, do not be tempted to run into the first store somewhere in the center of Istanbul or any other city - take a walk, go to ordinary residential neighborhoods. Because in some inconspicuous store "around the corner" you can get much better, more flavorful goods. And it will definitely bring happiness and be remembered by your loved ones more than a banal magnet.

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