Spice a dish with love and it pleases every palate.
While Dubai may be famous for its lavish malls, innovative architecture, and lively parties, any trip to this place is incomplete without visiting the souks. Tucked away in the narrow lanes of Dubai, lies a place that will enthrall you with fragrances ranging from cinnamon to vanilla pods and ginger roots. Welcome to the 'Spice Souk of Dubai' and enliven your senses to a whole new world of spices that you had read about only in fancy recipe books until now. All you need is your Dubai visa, your flight ticket, and you're ready to enter the world of Spices.
The Spice Souk of Dubai
The traditional markets or souks of Dubai are famous all over the world for the variety they offer. The Spice Souk is quite popular among the many souks of Dubai. The aromas of spice combinations fill up the narrow lanes of the souk. The vendors receive fresh stocks everyday from different countries such as India, Pakistan and Iran. Numerous jute bags full of colourful spices from distant lands make for a weekly shopping venture for the locals. Despite the fact that it is not a tourist spot, the vibrant colors of the herbs and seasonings attract a lot of tourists and photographers. Ranging from kitchen spices to medicinal herbs, to the sweet-smelling frankincense, to the best quality dried fruits to even hair oils, this souk has it all. You might want to leave some space in your suitcase since you will end up buying more than you had expected. Haggling adds a certain charm to the whole process. If you have time, then feel free to compare prices at the other shops and then settle for the best one.
Here's where you can add some spice to your life
You might find it a little difficult to locate, but the spice souk is situated next to the gold souk in Deira on Baniyas Street. It is within a walking distance from the Al Ras metro station. With the influx of high-end shopping malls, the trade in the souks has considerably reduced over the years. However, the friendly and hospitable behavior of the vendors makes for a pleasant visit. The operating hours are roughly from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. from Saturday to Thursday. On Fridays, the operations start at 4 in the evening. Keep in mind that it is closed between 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. every day. The operations are in full swing in the late afternoons and evenings, which also serves as the best time to visit the souk. Also, it would be best if you had some leisure time on your hands since a visit to the souk wouldn’t be enjoyable if you were in a hurry.
Treasures to be found at the souk
The souk also sells other household utilities such as groceries and plastic items. You will definitely be confused as to what you should buy. So here’s a little help – saffron, rose water, sheesha or water pipes, vanilla pods, cinnamon sticks, and dried lemons seem to be amongst the most popular buys. You probably can’t go wrong with it. If you love tea, you will find more tea flavors than you can identify. Try hibiscus, lavender, and rosebud tea among many others.
You may not be a cook, but these spices will surely add finesse to your cooking skills. And doesn’t the sound of chocolate-covered dates tempt you to at least have a look? We’re not trying to entice you, but if it works then book your flight tickets and set off to Dubai with our Dubai Tour Packages.