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EveryMasala

Spices of Isfahan

A Safavid capital with the Qeysarieh Bazaar and a cuisine of rice, saffron and rich stews.

Isfahan

Traded and grown here

SaffronSumacCardamom

Best time: April to May, and September to October.

Isfahan was the capital of Persia under the Safavids and is known for its mosques, bridges and the Naqsh-e Jahan Square. The Qeysarieh Bazaar, entered from the square, sells crafts, spices and sweets.

This is a photo of a monument in Iran identified by the ID
Photo: Pedram forouzanfar, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spices and trade

Isfahan is known for gaz, a nougat made with pistachio and flavoured with rose water. Bazaar stalls sell saffron, dried herbs, sumac, cinnamon and cardamom. Beryani, a local dish of minced meat, is served with spice-rich seasonings.

The place and its people

The city has Persian, Armenian and Jewish communities. Jolfa, the Armenian quarter, has cafes and the Vank Cathedral.

Visiting

Naqsh-e Jahan Square and the Si-o-se-pol bridge are central. Spices and saffron are sold in the bazaar.

A trail idea for Isfahan

  1. Naqsh-e Jahan Square See the great mosques.
  2. Qeysarieh Bazaar Browse spice stalls.
  3. A gaz shop Taste the local sweet.
  4. Si-o-se-pol Bridge Walk across the old bridge.
About this page

Written by the EveryMasala desk with AI assistance. Background: "Isfahan" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and tours change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.

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