Persia or present day Iran is mainly popular for its wonderful poetry, luxurious rugs, pistachios, saffron and lush green gardens that are scattered at every nook and corner of the country. Iran lies off the beaten track of most international tourists and remains to be explored. It’s worth a mention here that Iran’s most famous poem is Shanameh-The Epic of Kings and again I want to stress that poetry holds a high place in Iranian culture.
Iran is a large country that is part of Greater Middle East region and the South Central Asian region, originally known to the westerners by the name Persia and post 1935 it came to be known as Iran. Iran is a multi ethnic and multi cultural country mainly dominated by the ethnic groups: Iranian Azeris, Kurds, Armenians, Arabs, Lurs, Turks, Georgians, Assyrians and Jews. The most practiced religion in this country is Islam and has more Shia Muslims than Sunni Muslims than any other country, other minority religions in this region are Zoroastrianism, Christianity and Judaism.
Iran is not considered that safe for traveling especially for US travelers because there have been incidents of kidnapping and detention of US citizens in the past. One point I want to make here is no place on this earth is safe but if you are watchful and careful about where you are getting around then even a place like Iran becomes safe. US citizens need a valid visa to travel to this country and they must apply for one at The Pakistan Embassy in Washington and there is an extra mandatory condition that an MFA approved Tourist guide must accompany them through out the trip during sightseeing activities . US travelers please make a note of this!
Iranian souvenirs are a delight for most international tourists and I strongly recommend visiting the shopping markets to find these artisanal handicrafts unique to Iran. Don’t forget to buy these while you do your window shopping, these souvenirs will let you treasure some unique golden memories of Iran. I’m now going to list the top five unique souvenir items that you can buy when you land in this Persian country.
Handmade Cloths
Handmade cloths from Iran are manufactured using a variety of techniques mainly based on the region of its origin. Esfahan in Iran is home to Ghalamkari handmade cloth which employs the use of wooden stamps to print floral, geometric and other patterns on the cloth, Kerman region in Iran is home to Pateh handmade cloths which are produced by a combination of dyeing and hand stitching techniques and lastly Yazd in Iran is famous for its Terme handmade cloths that are woven silk fabrics with fine golden threads.
Giveh
Giveh is a durable hand-woven footwear which has its origins from Iran. This footwear is commonly found in Kermanshah Province of Iran and essentially the footwear comes with a leather sole and a white woven cotton upper. It can be used as a relaxed footwear during hot summers and over the years local artists altered the retro looking Giveh with modern designs and prints. Giveh is our top pick for your Persian souvenir shopping.
Sweets, nuts and native spices
When you are in Iran you must sample some of the best native sweets that this country is famous for to get a taste of the local Persian desserts. Look out for these two Persian desserts: Sohan, a Persian brittle toffee made with Saffron from Qom and Persian Noughat Gaz from Esfahan. Apart from desserts you must also buy some native spices and nuts like Saffron and pistachios for fond remembrances of this place.
Home furnishings
For popular home furnishings from Iran I recommend the luxurious Persian rugs and pillow covers. Persian rugs are considered the best throughout the world and buying at least one of them during your visit to Iran is something that must be in your bucket list of things to shop in Iran. It’s quite common to find these rugs in either pure silk or a blend of wool and silk formats. Pillow covers are also irresistibe souvenirs, the Persian pillow covers usually have tribal imprints on them which are ideal for gifting your best friends.
Minakari
Esfahan also boasts of being the place of origin for its most famous Minakari or enamel work handicrafts. These unique handicrafts are made of copper and are typically brush painted with images of floral objects and birds on a background that is typically Azure blue. Buying one of these Iranian souvenirs during your visit is a must-do thing for you.
Khatamkari
If you like marquetry then we have something that’s gonna interest you during your holiday in Iran. Look out for the Persian art of Marquetry that uses materials like wood, bone and metal to create an inlaid handicraft items including jewelry boxes and picture frames to name a few.
