Iranian souvenirs for foreigners Introducing 20 edible souvenirs and handicrafts + photos

Iran is a country with outstanding historical and cultural characteristics and is always known as one of the oldest origins of human civilization. The variety of customs and traditions of each region in Iran has caused us to see a wide range of souvenirs in different cities of our country, in addition to all the attractive and exemplary features. Iranian souvenirs bring a different feeling to foreigners who travel to our country; Because they cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Among these valuable souvenirs, we can mention calligraphy, traditional fabrics, saffron, pistachios, Iranian carpets and rugs, etc., which have a global reputation. Stay with us in the rest of this article to introduce the best souvenirs and handicrafts of Iran.

The best Iranian souvenirs for foreigners:

penmanship

Kalamzani is one of the traditional handicrafts of Iran, which is several thousand years old. This art, which is done by skilled Iranian artists, is an Iranian version of the art of engraving on metal, which includes carving and carving motifs and delicate designs on metals such as brass, silver and copper.

_{Photo source: honarsara.com; Photographer: Unknown}

Among the works of calligraphy, we can mention all kinds of vases, plates, candelabras, candlesticks, tea containers, paintings, etc., which are all considered very valuable and special. Isfahan in Iran is known as the center of calligraphy art; But in other cities of Iran, such as Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz and Mashhad, there are also artists who produce and market valuable calligraphy works.

Enamel

Minakari can probably be considered one of the most attractive souvenirs of Iran for foreigners. In this complex and special art, artists transform various objects into valuable and precious works of art using painting. After drawing beautiful designs and patterns on various objects, the color is fixed by heating in special ovens.

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The history of enamel art reaches about 5,000 years and has remained until today. Enameling is usually done on pottery or pots, plates and glasses with silver, copper and even gold.

Today, you will find the most skilled enamel artists in Isfahan. Nevertheless, enamel works are also produced and offered in other cities such as Tehran and Shiraz.

Khatam Kari

Khatam Kari is another souvenir of Iran, which is a type of “Maraq Kari”. In inlay work, small pieces of wood, bone (usually camel bone) or metal are placed together as delicately as possible. When putting these pieces together, the artist follows specific and beautiful patterns, which are usually in the form of geometric shapes. These pieces are glued on the surface of the objects.

_{Photo source: 7gardun.com; Photographer: Unknown}

Among the products of inlay art, we can mention jewelry boxes, candy bars, chess boards, tissue boxes, clocks, photo frames, etc.

Traditional fabrics (Cashmere, Kalamkar and Pate)

Hand-embroidered fabrics decorated with traditional designs and patterns are among the best souvenirs of Iran for foreigners. In the preparation of traditional fabrics, the highest quality raw materials are used to achieve the best results. You can never compare the elegance and beauty of Pate, Cashmere or Qalamkar fabrics with machine made fabrics.

Cashmere is known as a traditional Iranian fabric and also as an artistic masterpiece. Although today, cashmere is also known as a valuable souvenir of Kashmir, many experts believe that cashmere was introduced to Kashmir by Iranian artists. Yazd province in Iran is considered as the main center of cashmere weaving art; But you will also find cashmere weaving products in Isfahan market.

_{Photo source: pate.shop; Photographer: Unknown}

Pate embroidery is another type of Iranian handicraft that is performed on fabric. Sometimes it is also called chain embroidery. This fine art is mainly popular in Kerman province and is considered one of the well-known handicrafts of this province. The patte dooz artist creates beautiful designs and patterns on the background fabric, often known as ‘areez’, with the help of colorful threads called ‘rees’.

Kalamkari or making Kalamkar fabrics is another Iranian handicraft that is more popular in Isfahan. The calligraphy artist draws designs on the fabric with full skill and with the help of patterned wooden stamps.

Carpets and rugs

Iranian carpets and rugs have a global reputation and attract art-loving people in every part of the world. These valuable and hand-woven works are produced by skilled and artistic carpet weavers in different parts of the country. Iranian carpets are available in various sizes and styles, and this issue will give more choice to customers and tourists.

_{Photo source: chtn.ir; Photographer: Roya Khalili}

Iranian carpets can be divided into 19 subgroups, including Shah Abbasi, Betejagah and Shekargah. The main criterion for classifying Iranian carpets is the patterns used in it; Therefore, an expert and experienced person is needed to determine which category the carpet in question belongs to. In addition to hand-woven Iranian carpets, Iranian rugs are also considered one of the best souvenirs of Iran for foreigners. A rug usually has a coarser texture than a carpet and is cheaper. Carpets are often woven by nomadic women using goat hair and sheep wool. The rug can be used as a floor covering or hung on the wall as a beautiful painting.

Giwa

Giweh is a kind of light and beautiful shoes that are made entirely of cotton or silk. Leather is used to make the bottom part of the shoe. This shoe is specially prepared for farmers, ranchers and people who have high physical activity; Because it is light, durable and comfortable, and it can be purchased at reasonable prices. In addition, Giweh is a very suitable option for hot summer days.

_{Photo source: soophi.ir; Photographer: Unknown}

Giweh is made by male and female artists and takes a lot of time and patience. In Kermanshah province in the west of Iran, several types of giweh are woven. Also, Oraman region is known as the textile weaving center in Kurdistan province. The raw materials for making giveh are also prepared locally or from nearby cities such as Sanandaj, Kermanshah, Isfahan, etc.

Although giveh is known as a handicraft of Kermanshah and Kurdistan, its production is also popular in Zanjan, Fars, Isfahan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces.

Kobe turquoise

In Mashhad and Neishabur, turquoise stone is used to make ornaments and decorative accessories such as rings, necklaces, bracelets and earrings; But the use of turquoise is not limited to the mentioned cases. In the art of “Turquoise Kobi”, small pieces of turquoise are carefully and delicately glued together on the surface of various objects and containers to create a special and spectacular work of art from a simple and ordinary tool.

_{Photo source: honarsara.com; Photographer: Unknown}

Pottery and ceramics

Pottery is an ancient tradition in Iran that is more than 8,000 years old. Although this art has lost its past status in the present time, you will still find artists who are busy making pottery in different parts of Iran such as Natanz, Isfahan, Meybod, Yazd, etc. Especially Laljin, which is known as the pottery capital of Iran.

_{Photo source: tasnimnews.com; Photographer: Unknown}

Ceramic works, which are the result of the time and precision of artists and are decorated with beautiful paintings, can be good options to buy as souvenirs of Iran.

turquoise stone

Undoubtedly, the turquoise stone with its attractive blue color is one of the most beautiful stones that can be used in jewelry and decorative accessories. This stone is a rare and valuable mineral that can only be found in certain places. The best samples of turquoise stone are obtained from Nishapur and India.

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copper dishes

5,000-year-old coppersmithing is one of the oldest Iranian handicrafts. The objects and copper vessels left from the very distant past show us that Iranians had skilled artists in the field of coppersmithing.

_{Photo source: Instagram (@home_copper); Photographer: Unknown}

Today, copper dishes are among the best souvenirs of Iran for foreigners, and their production is widespread in cities such as Isfahan, Kerman and Shiraz. In all these cities, you will find coppersmiths’ markets where artists work on copper vessels and objects.

Kari tapestry

Kari tapestry is one of the handicrafts of Zanjan, Ardabil, Borujerd and Isfahan, which foreign tourists include in their shopping baskets. Interestingly, Zanjan, which is the main origin of tapestry art, was recognized by UNESCO as the “World Tapestry City” in 2018.

_{Photo source: bazaremina.ir; Photographer: Unknown}

The art of tapestry is very delicate and sensitive, and it is used in making decorative silverware. The tapestry artist places a large number of silver wires next to each other and creates patterns such as tears, fringes, leaves, ivy, buds, etc.

Gaz

Gaz is one of the most popular souvenirs of Iran, which is mostly known as the souvenir of Isfahan. Of course, gas is produced and sold in Kerman, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Yazd and Hamadan provinces in addition to Isfahan.

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Gaz’s name is derived from “gazangbin”, which is one of its main ingredients. Gazangbin means Angbin juice and it is obtained from a kind of wild shrub found in the Zagros highlands. Gaz is usually decorated with pistachios and almonds and it is sold in different types such as morsels, flour, etc.

Polki and Nabat

Polki is one of the best edible souvenirs of Iran, which is mostly produced and consumed in Isfahan. Pulki is a kind of thin and circular candy that is usually consumed with tea. Polki is prepared from melted sugar and flavored with ingredients such as saffron, mint, pistachio, lemon, coconut, etc.

_{Photo source: aryagaz.ir; Photographer: Unknown}

Nabat is one of the sweet and delicious Iranian foods that you will find in almost every city and province. Nabat is often used to sweeten tea and tea and is prepared by pilgrims as one of the best souvenirs of Mashhad.

Sohan

Sohan can be included in the list of the best food souvenirs of Iran for foreigners. This delicious traditional sweet is mainly produced in the city of Qom, and for this reason, it is sometimes known as “Sohan Qom”. Sohan is prepared using ingredients such as flour, sugar, wheat germ, egg yolk, rose water, butter, saffron, pistachio slices or almonds.

_{Photo source: raoufnuts.co; Photographer: Unknown}

Sohan is marketed in various shapes and flavors and you will find it in stores in most cities of the country.

Baklava

Baklava is originally a Turkish sweet; But Iranian Baklava is also very famous. In fact, baklava is one of the most popular sweets in Türkiye, Iran, Azerbaijan, Central Asia and some Arab countries. Iranian baklava is mainly prepared in confectioneries in cities such as Tabriz, Ardabil, Yazd, Qazvin, etc.

_{Photo source: yazdshirini.com; Photographer: Unknown}

Qatab

Yazd is more famous for its sweets and delicious food than anything else. Qatab is one of the best souvenirs of Yazd; A delicious sweet made from flour, powdered sugar, vegetable oil and cardamom and filled with pistachio, almond or walnut. Qatab is one of the oldest Iranian sweets and is produced in cities like Kerman in addition to Yazd.

_{Photo source: fararu.com; Photographer: Unknown}

Saffron

Red gold or saffron is considered as one of the most valuable souvenirs of Iran. Currently, Iran is one of the largest producers of saffron in the world, and according to statistics, 94% of the total volume of saffron in the world is cultivated in Iran, mainly in the eastern region of Khorasan; Therefore, Mashhad is the best city in Iran to buy saffron.

_{Photo source: bestkalaha.com; Photographer: Unknown}

Unfortunately, due to poor marketing and packaging and lack of management, Iranian saffron is exported in bulk to countries such as Spain, Afghanistan, etc., and sold to other parts of the world with different packaging and brands.

Pistachios and nuts

You probably know that pistachios are known as green gold and Iran is one of the largest producers of pistachios in the world. Rafsanjan pistachios are known as the best souvenirs of Kerman. These delicious and characteristic nuts have many fans among foreign tourists. “Akbari” pistachio is the most popular type of pistachio in Iran. Pistachios can be roasted and salted or eaten raw. In Iran, pistachios are usually used in the preparation of sweets such as Gaz, Sohan, Qatab, etc.

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Pistachios are not the only nuts that are popular and demanded by foreigners; Moreover, they have also shown interest in buying Iranian almonds, walnuts and peanuts.

Rose

Gulab is a staple of many Iranian dishes. This fragrant and tasty extract is used in all kinds of food and sweets. Rose water has many medicinal and health properties; Among other things, it is used as a relaxing substance and gives a unique aroma to foods. In addition, rose water is also used as a skin cleanser and brightener.

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Kashan is known as the capital of Iran’s rose water and you will find the best rose water in this city. The annual rose picking ceremony is held from the beginning of May to the middle of June in Qomsar and Niaser villages.

Iranian tea

Undoubtedly, nothing can replace the aroma and taste of a glass of freshly brewed Iranian tea. The strong interest of Iranians in consuming tea is attractive in its own way for foreign tourists; But this matter becomes more attractive when we show them that we have one of the best types of tea in the world in our country.

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Iranian tea is mainly cultivated in the fields of the north of the country, especially in Gilan province, and it is one of the best souvenirs of Gilan. The reason for the fame of Iranian tea is its special aroma and taste that you will not find in any other sample. There are different types of Iranian tea, including Sargol tea, premium tea, workshop tea, pen tea, broken tea, powder tea, etc.

_{Photo source: tasteiran.net website; Photographer: Daisy Lorenzi}

Iran, as an ancient land with various tribes and traditions, is full of beautiful and amazing souvenirs and handicrafts. In this article, we only briefly mentioned a part of Iranian souvenirs that are more known to foreign tourists. You can share your opinion and experiences in this field with us and other Kejaro companions.

_{Cover photo source: visitouriran.com; Photographer: Unknown}