What to buy in Egypt? Tips on what to buy in Egypt

2024 Author: Harold Hamphrey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:06

Tours to Egypt are very popular. And this is not surprising: hot sun, clear sea with colorful fish, beautiful beaches, delicious food, unusual souvenirs…

To fully understand the culture of Egypt, you need to plunge headlong into all the delights of this country!

What to buy cheap?

What can you buy in Egypt at a good price?

Jewelry. The fineness of gold in Egypt is higher than in Russia. Silver is used as impurities, not copper, as in our country. You can buy gold in Egypt without any problems!
Silver. The quality is quite good, here you can find original products.
Camel blanket. It can be bought in any market for ridiculous money. Pay attention to camel leather products, because what to buy in Egypt (Hurghada is no exception) if not something related to camels!
Incense sticks - for lovers of specific smells. Price per pack – $1!
Drugs. They are cheaper, better and more proven than ours. Many are interested in what medicines to buy in Egypt? Absolutely any -from vitamins to potent drugs. Just read the names and instructions first.
Watch. It is much easier to buy equipment in Egypt, and besides, it is cheaper.

What to buy in Egypt: enjoying local cuisine

Did you know that Egypt is famous not only for its ancient architectural monuments, rich culture and recent revolution, but also for its wonderful food? Egyptian cuisine is a symbiosis of various civilizations that have existed on the territory of this mysterious country throughout its history. Nowhere else will you have the opportunity to taste such an amazing combination of many cultures in one dish! Therefore, do not hesitate for a long time what to buy in Egypt, and do not spare money, but try and enjoy!

The most popular traditional Egyptian dishes

You can enjoy them on the spot, planning to repeat the original recipes at home, or you can buy something tasty and buy as a gift for loved ones.

Gibna Domiati

This is a soft white cheese, a type of cheese produced in the port city of Damietta. Traditionally, it is prepared from buffalo milk, but cow's milk is often added here. This is the most common type of cheese in Egypt. It is also included in many dishes, such as sambusa - fried thin puff pastry stuffed with cheese - or mashed potatoes with cheese. Cheese "Gibna Domiati" ripens for 1-3 years in large tins. Most Egyptian families are proud of the numberjars and their shelf life. As the Egyptians themselves say, the longer the cheese ripens, the tastier it becomes.

Kushari

This vegetarian dish is national in Egypt. If you ask an experienced tourist about what to buy in Egypt, the reviews about kushari will definitely be the most flattering! The dish is pasta seasoned with tomato sauce, to which rice, lentils, garlic, chickpeas, and caramelized onions are added. This dish has become a very popular lunch food and is easy to find on many Egyptian streets. Interestingly, kushari is not a dish of Egyptian origin, because pasta, for example, was delivered from Italy, tomatoes were imported from Latin America, and Asian rice was used. But the Egyptians decided to mix it all up. Thus, the result is a new dish - tasty and satisfying.

Fatta

This delicacy is considered Nubian. The combination of rice and puff bread is served with meat sauce with garlic and vinegar. In addition to everything - large pieces of fried beef and eggs. It is customary to cook fatta in honor of the birth of the first child, as well as on other Muslim and Christian holidays. The dish is high in calories, so it is not cooked during Lent.

Taro soup

Taro, or taro, is a plant that came from Southeast Asia. The tubers, which are inedible when raw, are peeled and boiled in meat broth, seasoned with garlic and coriander. When ready, the tubers are crushed into a puree soup. This dish is served on a holiday. Coptic Christian Epiphany.

Full Medames

This dish consists of beans. It is served with vegetable oil and seasoned with garlic and lemon juice. Ful Medames is very popular in Egypt. It was prepared in the time of the pharaohs. From the Coptic language, the word "medames" means "buried". Indeed, initially this dish was prepared differently: a pot of beans was "hidden" in hot sand or coals. It is traditionally eaten with bread, but can be supplemented with other products: tomato sauce, butter or eggs.

Dukkah

This Egyptian dish is used as an accompaniment and eaten with flatbread or vegetables. Dukka is a mix of herbs, spices and nuts. These include: cumin, coriander, mint, sesame and s alt. They cook it at home, and each Egyptian family has its own cooking secret. "Dukkah" in Arabic means "crush". That's how they cook it.

Mulukiya

Mulukiya is a dish made from the leaves of the jute plant. They are boiled with meat, such as chicken, rabbit or beef, adding garlic and coriander. Served with rice or bread.

Fesik

This is a traditional dish that is prepared only in honor of the Sham el-Nessim holiday. It is celebrated in the spring. Fesik - fermented s alted and dried mullet. Most often it is prepared by a special person - fasakani. If the fesik is cooked incorrectly, then they can be poisoned. It is stored in glass jars with thick glass. Since the fish is very strongaroma, jars tightly closed with lids. This dish is served with bread and onions, sprinkled with lemon.

Halva

This delicious sweet is prepared not only in the Middle East, but also in Egypt. Here it consists of sesame paste. In the form of additives, pistachio, almond and pine nuts are used. Halva is eaten not only in its pure form. Sacalans, for example. This is a mixture of halva with honey and whipped cream. It turns out that halva can withstand a sufficiently high temperature and not deteriorate.

Kunafa

This Egyptian delicacy is made from thin noodles. Liquid dough - kadaif - is applied in a thin layer on a frying pan, fried until it becomes crispy. After that, butter is added, the cream filling with nuts is wrapped, then baked. Served with fruit syrup.

Buying fruits

What to buy in Egypt if not fruit? This is something special! In the delta off the banks of the Nile, the soil is so fertile that no fertilizer is needed! Therefore, Egyptian fruits and berries are super-ecological.

Every fruit has its season:

end of January-April - strawberries/$1 per 1 kilo;
April-June - peaches/$1;
June-September - mango/$3-4;
all summer – figs/$1.5;
whole year - bananas and oranges/up to $0.5;
July-September - dates/$0.5.

You can buy melons and watermelons, but they are usually tasteless, although very juicy. Tip: buy fruit only at the market.

Can I bring Egyptianfruit home?

As for the export of fruit from Egypt, the Egyptians do not mind that you buy fruit in their country. And according to Russian laws, the import of fruits into the country is prohibited, as this can contribute to the introduction of harmful organisms into the state. Although, unfortunately, few tourists understand this.

National souvenirs

If you have already found yourself in this country, then you simply must buy traditional souvenirs! What can you buy in Egypt?

Cotton

Famous Egyptian cotton is of very high quality: T-shirts, dresses, towels and other products are practically "wear-free"!

Papyrus

Papyrus is a useless, but beautiful thing, and there is a place for it in the home interior. If you want to get not a fake, but a quality product, make a purchase at the Papyrus Institute in Cairo. It is not worth buying from street vendors. Distinguishing a real papyrus from a fake is very simple. The real one is made from papyrus stems, so it can be rolled up easily. Fakes are made from palm leaves or rice paper. Remember: self-respecting papyrus stores issue a certificate that the purchased product is real. A stamped, not very high-quality product can be purchased for $ 1. For a handmade papyrus, be prepared to pay at least $10 (medium-sized copy).

Hookah

Hookah is a good gift for both men and women. The classic option is considered "shisha". Depending on thematerial used for this souvenir, size and place of sale, the price of a hookah varies from 60 to 600 Egyptian pounds (80-800 $).

Tobacco for hookah

It should be noted that fresh tobacco should be wet and sticky. The best varieties are Nakhla and Al Fakher. The packaging must be sealed. And also be sure to check the expiration date. As for taste, this is already an amateur.

So, you are going to Egypt (Hurghada). What else can you buy to please yourself and your loved ones?

Carpets. Artistic, made of natural camel hair, handmade… In a word, a work of art! They also offer excellent cowhide for a small price - $ 100-150.
Kaf Maryam - a souvenir in the form of dry grass that brings good luck in business. After standing in water for several days, the dry bunch will bloom with blue flowers!
The scarab beetle is a symbol of Egypt. It is believed to bring good luck, happiness and harmony. They make souvenirs from different materials, but most often they are gold or silver, from onyx or turquoise.
Coffee - ground and with cardamom. Excellent quality, and it is cheaper than in Russia. You need to buy in shops. Select a type of coffee, the beans will be ground into a fine powder and spices will be added.
Magnet. Well, of course! Where without him!
Sweets. Halva, kunafa, basbusa, baklava, chocolate-covered dates, kahk, Turkish delight - all in beautiful boxes. It's impossible to resist!
Spices. Aromatic oriental spices will give your dish a taste of Egypt. Get a mixture of spices "Baharat". Don't forget to buy saffron, turmeric, kamun.
Tea. Bright red hibiscus with a sour taste. Hibiscus flowers, or Sudanese rose, will benefit by purifying the blood and regulating blood pressure.

This list can be continued indefinitely… Therefore, when planning a trip, ask your friends and acquaintances who have already visited the Nile Valley: what was so interesting they brought, and what can you buy in Egypt for you?