Taking a little something home from our travels, something that immerses us in unforgettable memories of a very special trip, provides us with a tangible reminder of the wonderful cultures, people and experiences we have enjoyed.
Souvenirs usually reflect the food culture or common customs of a particular place and offer a connection between that place and those who have visited it.
Iran offers outstanding souvenirs and has received attention among tourists all over the world for the quality and skill of its artisans and creators. Souvenirs of Iran’s cities are symbols of culture, originality and tradition. Handicrafts of Iran have a worldwide reputation due to the skill of Iranian artists and craftsmen. Much of what is on offer in Iran is of a quality and unique nature and this is cherished among foreign tourists who appreciate quality and individuality.
Here are some famous souvenirs of Iran that allow you to take a small part of this ancient country back home with you:
Possibly, the most famous souvenir of Iran is hand woven carpets. Persian carpets are world-renowned for their fantastic pattern and charming warp and wool, depicting the unique art of Iran. Carpet weaving in Persian land dates back 2500 years ago, which Pazyryc carpet, the distinguished and the oldest carpet in the world due to many similarities to the Iranians’ design, pattern and also extensive use of red color, have been attributed to Achaemenid era. In fact, Iranians truly were the first people in the world to weave rugs, which is proof of the enduring skill of carpet weaving in Iran. Persian carpet is a symbol of art, genius, culture and originality, with many tourists enchanted by its beauty and wishing to take it as a splendid souvenir to their country. A genuine Persian carpet is a truly wonderful investment for any discerning traveler.
Not only carpets, but also Kilim, Gabbeh, Jajim and the other woven fabrics, ensure that whatever your aesthetic preference there is a quality design and style that will evoke the sweet memory of traveling to ancient Persia in your home.
One of the most skillful arts is the ability to depict a whole of scene or story in the smallest format, requiring incredible attention to detail. It is fascinating to look at the exquisite detail in every artwork – a true testament to the artistry of its creator. Miniature artwork has a long history in Iran. It is one of the most attractive painting arts in the country depicting the culture and tradition in such detail on tiny scale paintings, religious, national, artistic and social elements of Iran can all be seen. In addition, in some cases, historical patterns and mythical creatures are observed. Regarding particular styles, Isfahan miniature, has a world reputation not only in Iran but also among other countries which is why tourists often like to buy this marvelous art as precious memento. This fine art with its special beauty and elegance, has attracted the attention of a huge number of art lovers as well as tourists who travel to ancient Persia.
The art of creating wonderful objects by means of inanimate materials, Khatamkari, is one of the gorgeous handcrafts of Iran, dating back to thousand years ago. This is the art of using regular, beautiful and colorful triangular or polygonal pieces that are put together like a mosaic, which with pieces of wood, bones and metals that have been cut into tiny triangle shapes, the surface of wooden objects is being converted and decorated. This leads to create ornamental objects such as jewelry boxes, photo frame, backgammon, wall clocks and etc. Furthermore, this stunning art was used in some tourists’ attractions, including inlaid pulpit of Atigh Mosque in Shiraz, inlaid doors of Timur palace in Samarkand or doors of Golestan palace’s hall. However, Khatamkari could be found in many cities of Iran, Isfahan is a hub for this art.
For sure this is a beautiful reminder of your travels in your home.
Handmade quality cloths are of great value in Iran; as a result, there are remarkable fabrics which are revered due to their delicacy and needlework, including Termeh, (a luxurious, hand-woven silk texture requiring fine threads of wool and silk), Pateh (a naturally dyed, hand-stitched decorative cloth made of wool) and Qalamkari (a kind of traditional print that is applied to textile).
Meanwhile, Yazd is famous for Termeh, Kerman is a great hub for Pateh and Qalamkari is originating in Isfahan.
Do not miss these alluring cloths as souvenirs to take with you.
If you love accessories such as necklaces, bracelets, rings or ornaments with beautiful gemstones, Persian turquoise will be a wonderful choice for you. Turquoise or Firoozeh is one of the valuable stones used not only for jewelry in its own right but also in the art of hammering of small pieces of turquoise into copper. This is called Firoozeh Koobi that by helping of this art, eye-catching objects (mirrors, vases, trays, plates, jewelry boxes and etc.) are created. Neishabur, the city of Iran, is the site of turquoise mines, although it can be found in various bazaars in different cities.
Minakari dates back five thousand years in order to beautify various ornaments and utensils. This art is a combination of fire and soil that blends with the art of painting to create beautiful designs. According to some experts, following the adaptation of Byzantine pottery with Iranian works, this art was formed in Iran and then went to other countries. Minakari is mostly done on copper, but it can also be done on gold and silver. Indeed, gold is the only metal that does not oxidize when the enamel melts; therefore, this leads to design a pattern with more details and more similarity on the emerald; while copper and silver do not have such a quality. As a result of the combination of metal oxides and various types of salt with high temperature of 750 to 850 degree Celsius, enamel is formed and colors created based on temperature over time. Minakari is mostly produced in Isfahan which is considered as the great hub for this stunning Persian art.
Mina means blue sky reflecting the fact that this amazing painted vessel evokes the beautiful blue sky for us.
The luxurious, lavish food taken from the Caspian Sea. Caviar, considered as a very precious Iranian souvenir. Caviar is also known as the black pearl and dates back to 4th century B.C. Some historical records suggest that the people of the Persian Empire were the first to taste Caviar, believing it had many medicinal properties as well as a source of energy. Nearly 90 percent of the world’s Caviar is obtained from the world’s largest lake, Caspian Sea in north of Iran and it is one of the countries’ main exports.
Caviar with its spectacular taste and aroma, surely could be a distinctive souvenir from your travel to Persia.
Iran stimulates all the senses and has some delicious souvenirs to take home to enjoy yourself or as gifts for family and friends. Pistachio along with other nuts such as almond, peanut, walnut as well as dry fruits are considered to be the most popular souvenirs among tourists. Moreover, red golden, Iranian saffron is a special touch for any meal. Regarding sweets, there are plenty of mouth-watering examples to tempt you. To cite an example, Gaz from Isfahan, Sohan from Qom, Kolooche (some type of cookie) from Caspian Coast cities or Nougat from Tabriz are extremely finger-licking sweets you have ever tried.
Scrumptious Spices are wonderful gifts to take back to your country, high-quality turmeric, cumin, curry, oregano, to name just a few.
When the newly opened buds of rose flower are harvested from the gardens of this beautiful plant, they are taken to rose production workshops to prepare this fragrant product during the Kashan Rose Water Festival. This aromatic production has a very long history in Iran, trading it through the most significant routes, silk road in the 8th and 9th centuries. Kashan offers the purest and highest-quality rose water in Iran and no one could come back without some bottles of it. Do not forget it in your luggage as it will be extremely practical for you, from its pleasant smell to skin therapy.
