spices from Instanbul

[lovecats45]

We are going on an Eastern med trip and we will be going to Instanbul. While there I want to go to the spice market. Does any one know if it is O.K. to bring spices back into the states? There are a few spices I would like to bring home. Thanks for your help. Sandy

[DrKoob]

Originally Posted by lovecats45

We are going on an Eastern med trip and we will be going to Instanbul. While there I want to go to the spice market. Does any one know if it is O.K. to bring spices back into the states? There are a few spices I would like to bring home. Thanks for your help. Sandy

We brought back quite a few spices when we came back from our Galaxy cruise that stopped in Istanbul. The Spice Market is amazing. Much better than the Grand Bazaar. We brought back saffron (a great bargain) different kinds of pepper, a superb cinnamon and a bunch of turkish candy. We had no problem bringing it back onto the ship or into the US.

[babyorca]

I went to the Spice Market as well (while backpacking in Europe, not on a cruise) but had no trouble bring things back. They also have lovely fruit tisanes (apple cai) and delicious Turkish delights! I highly recommend those!

[uktog]

We went in September - make sure to preserve your spices that they vacuum wrap them - the shop we went to in the Spice Market did that - we went with a walking guide from Ekol who was very good - some of the shops do not vacuum pack but he knew we wanted to take them home so took us to a specific shop. It was wonderful, we also brought proper turkish delight - no comparison to the stuff sold in boxes in the Grand Bazaar
Certainly this is a great trip you should enjoy
A

[TRacanoUK]

I'm actually pretty sure it's illegal to bring spices through customs since most of them are plant by-products/seeds aren't they?

That being said, I also brought spices back from Istanbul and have brought back shamrock seeds from Ireland without question. I guess it just depends if you're the lucky customer that customs decides to harrass.

[DrKoob]

Originally Posted by TRacanoUK

I'm actually pretty sure it's illegal to bring spices through customs since most of them are plant by-products/seeds aren't they?

That being said, I also brought spices back from Istanbul and have brought back shamrock seeds from Ireland without question. I guess it just depends if you're the lucky customer that customs decides to harrass.

We told customs we had them. When we were at the Spice Market they did not just scoop up the spices from their piles in the market but sold us sealed containers that had to stay sealed until we went through customs. Sure enough when we returned we declared them and had no problem. Having just filled out a customs form (off a ship last Friday) there is no question relating to spices on the form.

[Nonna and Papa]

We never had a problem with the spices or coffee that we brought home either. One sweet treat aside from very good Turkish Delight that we brought home, was a type of baklava, although I can't recall the accurate name of it. It was in round slices and consisted of a honey pistachio center surrounded by somethng similar to shredded wheat. As with all our food purchases, it was placed into a box and sealed. I froze it, and took it out piece by piece whenever we wanted some. While not as crisp as when freshly purchased, when defrosted, was still quite delicious!

Mary

[DrKoob]

Originally Posted by Nonna and Papa

One sweet treat aside from very good Turkish Delight that we brought home, was a type of baklava, although I can't recall the accurate name of it. It was in round slices and consisted of a honey pistachio center surrounded by somethng similar to shredded wheat. As with all our food purchases, it was placed into a box and sealed. I froze it, and took it out piece by piece whenever we wanted some. While not as crisp as when freshly purchased, when defrosted, was still quite delicious!

Mary

Stop it Mary! You are making me hungry for baklava!

[yearbook]

I would not miss either market. The spice market is calmer, I think, and more beautiful. We bought pre-vacuum sealed spices with about 8 packets to them and also chose spices to be vacuum packed. No problem bringing in either. also bought Turkish delight. The fresh stuff is way better than the boxed.

[lovecats45]

Thanks everyone for all of your comments. I can hardly wait to go to the spice market. Saffron, cinnamon vanilla beans and the turkish delights yum. Sandy

[Nonna and Papa]

Originally Posted by DrKoob

Stop it Mary! You are making me hungry for baklava!

It just may be time to book another cruise to Turkey!!! That was some good stuff! I wish I could remember the name of it though...ah well.

Mary

[kikki21]

Hi all... the Celebrity website must be missing something as I can't seem to find a cruise with Istanbul on it for next year or have they all sold out?!
Kikki21

[woodofpine]

One of my most exotic travel memories as a child (10-11 yo) was Istanbuls' Grand Bazaar in 1968. As a young boy, I was enthalled with a Alibabba mistique of this circuitous place with stalls that sold among other things lots of genuine antique (and not so antique) firearms! Not so today. Visiting in '03, I realized that 'time waits for no one' not even the Grand Bazaar, now like a historically enclosed Wal-Mart cum tourist trap... Unfortunately, we afforded too little time to the Egyptian (Spice) Bazaar; it still had atmosphere and lots of local flavor (pun partially intended) albeit smaller and less diverse.

A few things seen at the Spice Bazaar that stood out as geneuine Turkish crafts (sorry I didn't buy more) were hanging painted wall tiles (a few bucks each) and iron crafted candle holders. But I'm going back this comming Spring, and to the Kemeralti Bazaar in Izmer which is reputedly large but less touristy also. Anticipation...

Enjoy!