What to Buy from Turkish Supermarkets?

In this article, I will explain what you can buy and try from the supermarkets that are on almost every street in Türkiye. First of all, the markets I am referring to are BİM, A101, CarrefourSA, Şok and Migros. What can you buy from these markets that you can take with you in your suitcase?

1. Tea and Coffee
When you think of Türkiye, the first thing that comes to mind is of course tea.
• Black Tea: You can buy loose tea in large yellow, black or red packages (such as Rize Turist Çayı or Filiz Çay). These teas are both very affordable and suitable to carry in your suitcase.
• Turkish Coffee: You can find Turkish coffee from “Kurukahveci Mehmet Efendi” or other brands in all of these markets. You can buy a few packs of Turkish coffee and give them as gifts to people around you when you return. Moreover, the coffee in supermarkets is really very affordable.
• Dibek Coffee: A sweeter coffee compared to Turkish coffee, it is also sold in markets. I definitely think you should try it and buy a few packs.

2. Breakfast Items
If you want to bring a Turkish breakfast home, check out this trio:
• Olives & Olive Oil: You will see many black and green olives on the shelves. At the same time, you can prefer olive oils made by pressing olives grown in Türkiye.
• Tahin & Molasses: This duo is like the “energy drink” of Turkish cuisine. They are usually placed side by side. You can mix them and consume by spreading on bread or pancakes.
• Hazelnut Spread: You are in the homeland of hazelnuts. A large portion of the world’s hazelnuts are produced in Türkiye and Italy. Therefore, you can buy local brands (such as Sarelle or Fiskobirlik) with 40-50% hazelnut content at an affordable price.

3. Snack Aisle
Here is the most fun part. Snacks in Türkiye are both very diverse and budget-friendly:
• Tadım Kuruyemiş: Roasted hazelnuts, pistachios or coated corn. These packages preserve their freshness and you can easily carry them in your suitcase. It is useful to try these coated corns from different brands. The sauce and aroma are different in each. So try to find the one that best suits your taste.
• Ülker & Eti: You can prefer biscuits, chocolates, cakes and many other products of these two giant brands.
• Pestil and Köme: Usually found in the nuts aisle. These pestils made from fruit extracts are natural sweets.

4. Spices and Sauces
• Chili Flakes: In Türkiye, especially Adana, Mersin and our eastern regions are famous for their spiciness. Do not leave without buying our famous spicy yet slightly sweet red chili flakes.
• Pomegranate Molasses: An indispensable product in salads and kısır (a dish made with bulgur). Check the ingredients when buying; try to prefer the one that says “100% Pomegranate Molasses” instead of “Pomegranate Molasses Sauce”.

5. Cosmetics Aisle
Rose Water, which you can find very cheaply in the personal care section of markets. Pure rose water is a great tonic and you can find it at market price in Türkiye. And of course lemon cologne; there is definitely one or more in every Turkish home. Since it contains a high amount of alcohol, it is used for hygiene purposes. There are hundreds of varieties of these colognes. Do not think that there is only lemon cologne. You can also visit cologne shops in places like the Kapalı Çarşı.

Some things I think you should know about supermarket shopping;
• Alcohol is sold in liquor stores. In large supermarkets, it is only sold in Migros and CarrefourSA. Alcohol is not sold in other markets.
• For much more variety and luxury consumption products, you can go to Macrocenter. However, do not forget that the prices here will be higher.
• Credit cards are valid in all markets.
• Bags are sold for 2 TL.
• When you use the mobile applications of the markets, you can benefit from some discounts or save money. For example, the Cepte Şok application is the application of Şok Market. Sometimes it gives 125 TL as a gift for 750 TL shopping and you can use it in your next shopping.

You can ask me what you are curious about Turkish supermarkets by sending an email or writing a comment. I wish you a pleasant shopping experience.