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Hello from Dubai. What to buy at the Spice Souk?

Sweet100s
Sweet100s Posts: 553
in EggHead Forum

Hello from Dubai. What to buy at the Spice Souk?

Hello Greeneggers, 

I was invited to speak at a tech thing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. First time here.  I have not yet found a man named Lawrence...   (Yea, so I watched Lawrence of Arabia twice while packing ;-)
 
I'd love to visit the Spice Souk and Textile Souk.  A pilot from South Africa I met in the hotel told me the souks are ... 
- "great places to shop if you know exactly what you want to buy and exactly what you're willing to pay.."   
- "haggling is expected"

When I search TripAdvisor from the hotel for dubai spice souk, the results are all in Arabic.

Could someone please look at the Tripadvisor results for the Spice Souk in English and tell me - 

What should I buy from the Dubai Spice Souk?
Anything that would be more difficult to find in the US?  Or at a better quality here?

I'd guess saffron is a definite.  I don't know what I should pay.  

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Comments

  • Eggcelsior
    Eggcelsior Posts: 14,414
    Get some Aleppo pepper, aka Halaby pepper.
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  • Richard Fl
    Richard Fl Posts: 8,297
    edited April 2017
    Get zaatar and also some bayberries--great with egyptian rice dishes.http://www.fruitipedia.com/bayberry.htm  Make sure you can get thru customs when reentering usa.  saffron if you can find it, a product from Iran was brought back from Istanbul several years ago when we had a trade embargo with them fortunately no one found it in luggage.  pricy but great in paella.  +1 for allepo pepper great on most dishes getting harder to find reasonably priced due to conflict in Syria.

    http://www.visitacity.com/en/dubai/attractions/dubai-spice-souq?gclid=CK-C7fqFndMCFVUvgQodQAkBfA


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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Have you tried https://translate.google.com ? Copy the URL of the Arabic site you're trying to read and paste it into the text box on the left. Select language (or Detect Language) can be a little funky, the translation too for that matter, but you should be able to get a translation you can use.

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • Skiddymarker
    Skiddymarker Posts: 8,528
    Never been to UAE, but did work on the ARAMCO radio links in Saudi during the '70s. Saffron is a good choice as are black lemons. Dried up looking things that add a great taste to stews.  
    Delta B.C. - Whiskey and steak, because no good story ever started with someone having a salad!
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  • VB_egger
    VB_egger Posts: 364
    I passed on buying anything at the spice souk, a fun place though. 

    If if its your first time there I recommend the guided bus tour of the city and jumeriah Beach area for food and entertainment.  Irish village is a good time too. 
    VA Beach
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  • Carolina Q
    Carolina Q Posts: 14,831
    Forgot about Chrome. If you go to the website you mentioned, using the Chrome browser, at the top of the page, it says, "This page is in Arabic, would you like to translate?"

    I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

    Michael 
    Central Connecticut 

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  • gdenby
    gdenby Posts: 6,239
    I was able to find a Trip Advisor English page for the Spice Souk. Not much info about any of the shops or spices. Quite a few mentions of how "touristy" it was.

    Looking online, it seems like the dried lemons and limes are usually quite good.

    Assuming the quality is good+, hard to know, less than 50 dirhams per gram for saffron is less expensive than in the US.

    Whole nutmeg, the kernel and the mace skin will last decades. Very good for long term storage. 50 dirhams per oz. is a good price.
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  • Sweet100s
    Sweet100s Posts: 553


    Thanks so much for the ideas!  OMG I am so groggy from time difference.  
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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,989
    edited April 2017
    Sweet100s said:


    Thanks so much for the ideas!  OMG I am so groggy from time difference.  
    @Sweet100s
     Sister Sweet, I hope you have a great time while there. I have got to ask, are you in the pic above? If so, which one are you. 

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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  • Plutonium
    Plutonium Posts: 231
    I've spent many weeks in UAE on business. I don't think I bought much in terms of spices. Za'atar could be a nice pickup. I spent more time in the jewelry souks. I bought the rock in my fiance's ring at the Dubai Gold and Diamond Park.

    I suggest trying all the Arabic variants of baklava. My favorite restaurant over there is Lebanese Flower, they have an awesome mixed grill. Not a super fancy place by any means, but it is delicious. Also try the lemon juice with mint.
    Albuquerque, NM - LBGE and an old rusted gasser that I use for accessory storage.


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  • Sweet100s
    Sweet100s Posts: 553
    edited April 2017
    Dubai is so much fun! 

    SGH hey! That picture were  the adorable Emirates flight attendants

     I haven't made it to the Spice Souk yet...   but  last night I did get to sample some delicious honey from the Royal honey bees which they make a big deal about.    

    The honey pictures and the Tesla exhibit are from The Dubai Mall.  I believe I was on Sheik Zayed road when I took the building picture. That Gold building in the background look pretty cool.




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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,989
    edited April 2017
    @Sweet100s
    Looks like a great time sister. Stay safe and Happy Easter. 

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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  • SGH
    SGH Posts: 28,989
    Sweet100s said:



    And thanks for posting a pic of yourself sister ;)

    Location- Just "this side" of Biloxi, Ms.

    Status- Standing by.

    The greatest barrier against all wisdom, the stronghold against knowledge itself, is the single thought, in ones mind, that they already have it all figured out. 

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