As 2024 is ticking down to its final hours, in cities like Istanbul people are rushing through the streets and queuing up for the last of their shopping in preparation for New Year’s Eve dinner, which is the most important date on December among Muslim Turks. One of the great epicentres of last-minute shopping is the port district of Eminönü and especially the famous Spice Bazaar (or Egyptian Bazaar), where both Turkish and foreign customers come to buy all kinds of goods and sweets.
Dried fruits and nuts are among the must-haves on the table of every Turkish household on the last night of the year, as well as Turkish delights. In addition to these products, sweets and candies of all kinds, as well as freshly ground coffee, are also common purchases for Turkish customers who come to the bazaar.
‘Tourism has increased in the last 3 or 4 days, probably because of the New Year. Tourists also buy Turkish delight and sweets as gifts,’ Hatice, a saleswoman with a shop in the famous market, told DHA news agency.
‘There are more customers compared to previous weeks, but mostly tourists come. A kilo of assorted nuts costs between 2,000 and 2,500 liras (between 55 and 70 euros). We are now selling pistachios at 3,800 liras (104 euros) per kilo, while last year they cost 2,800 liras (77 euros). Turkish delight were 900 liras (25 euros) last year, now they are 1,180 liras (32 euros),’ says Muhammed, another trader in the bazaar.
‘Chocolate, snacks and Turkish delights are the most popular things to buy for New Year’s Eve. And of course, tourists also buy tea and herbal teas. The sale of spices is dropping, but snacks, chocolates, Turkish delights, and sweets of all kinds are the biggest sellers,’ confesses this veteran trader in Istanbul‘s Spice Bazaar.
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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