The Spice Bazaar of Istanbul is an overwhelming, but amazing experience. Everywhere you turn, there are tons of spices and spice blends almost pouring out of the shops, garlands of dried tomatoes and eggplants are draped along the outskirts of the stalls, dried fruits and nuts are piled high or neatly stacked in baskets throughout the stalls and Turkish delight (or lokum as it is known in Turkish) covers anything not already buried. The air smells exotic, musty, spicy and sweet all at the same time, heavily perfumed by the spices and people crowding the market. Everywhere you turn, vendors are vying for your attention, plying you with the offer of free samples or the promise of low prices. Their voices create a roaring din that adds to the cacophony that is the spice market. People deliver tea or coffee to customers and vendors in the stalls on beautiful, ornate trays, effortlessly dipping and dodging through the crowds. Around the market, vendors sell fresh fish, aged cheeses, olives, fruit leather and the delicious Turkish coffee. Truly, it is an incredible experience.
The Spice Bazaar, or Egyptian Market as the Turkish name (Mesir Carsisi) translates to, was built with taxes from imported Egyptian goods. It was built by the Ottoman Empire and was the last stop on the Silk Road. Even more amazing is how well the building is preserved, it is still more or less the same as it was back when it was built- in the 1660’s!! The Spice Bazaar is not just an amazing tourist attraction, it is also visited by lcals picking up spices, fish, olives, nuts or any of the assorted goods sold in the market.
It’s not just the spice market in Istanbul that stimulates all the senses, it’s the whole city! The sights, sounds, smells, and flavors are incredible. We had tons of amazing food, from hand-pattied kebabs grilled in giant, ornate grills and flavorful donners wrapped in soft, chewy bread to fresh, exotic fruits like figs and pomegranates. All along the streets, vendors sell a variety of snacks, many of them surprisingly healthy- fresh sliced apples, juicy pieces of watermelon, pineapple on a stick, fresh grilled corn, dry roasted chickpeas and chestnuts, or fresh pressed pomegranate and orange juice. Of course, the desserts are rather tempting and delicious as well- phyllo dough filled with nuts and drenched in syrup, dried fruits rolled in dark chocolate and gummy, chewy turkish delight are displayed in windows on every street.
The Turks invented yogurt and it remains popular, not only in dips and spreads, but also as a drink in the form of ayran. Salty and thick, this drink is not always popular with tourists but it is served in most restaurants and the locals drink it up! Tea is also common and black chai is the traditional breakfast accompaniment. The small glass cups used to hold tea are also used as measuring cups in more traditional cooking And, of course, there is is Turkish Coffee. Fine grounds are added to a special coffeepot, water is added and the whole things is slowly brought to a boil. When the coffee foams, the foam is scooped off, placed in cups and the coffee is returned to the heat. When it foams again, it is poured into the cups and served. It is best not to swirl the cups or the grounds will be disturbed and the coffee ends up with the texture of mud. Super strong and flavorful, this coffee is definitely not for the faint of heart!
Istanbul is an incredible city with so much to offer, it truly is an experience for all of the senses!
