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EveryMasala

Spices of Khan el-Khalili, Cairo

Cairo's great bazaar, dating from the fourteenth century, with spice and herb shops along its lanes and nearby Al-Muizz Street.

Khan el-Khalili, Cairo

Traded and grown here

CuminDukkahHibiscus teaCoriander

Best time: October to April.

Khan el-Khalili was founded in 1382 as a trading caravanserai. Its labyrinth of lanes holds shops selling crafts, jewellery, perfume and spices, near Al-Azhar Mosque and the old Fatimid city.

The Khan el-Khalili market in Cairo, Egypt
Photo: V Manninen, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spices and trade

Egyptian shops sell cumin, coriander, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, dried hibiscus, called karkade, fenugreek and dukkah. Koshari, the national street dish, is topped with spiced tomato sauce, and ful medames is seasoned with cumin.

The place and its people

Egyptian food draws on Ottoman, Levantine and Nubian traditions. Hibiscus tea, karkade, is served hot or cold, and is also served at weddings.

Visiting

Fishawi's cafe has served tea and coffee for generations. Spice shops line the lanes, but prices should be compared.

A trail idea for Khan el-Khalili, Cairo

  1. The bazaar lanes Browse spices and crafts.
  2. A spice shop Buy cumin and dukkah.
  3. Fishawi's cafe Rest over mint tea.
  4. Al-Muizz Street Walk the medieval street.
About this page

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

PartSeedBarkRootFlowerFruitChilliLeafResinBulbStigmaBlendPasteSeasoning
FlavourHot and fieryWarm and sweet-spicedSweet and mellowEarthy and deepCitrus and brightSharp and pungentSmokyFloral and perfumedBitterAnise and liquoriceSour and tartSavoury and umamiNumbing and tinglingHerbal and green
MealBreakfastLunchDinnerSupperSnacks and tea timeDrinksDesserts and sweetsStreet foodPickles and preservesFeasts and banquets

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