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Hamedan Souvenirs Win Your Heart!
Hamedan souvenirs cannot be seen, eaten, or bought! Believe that this city is special and attractive in everything, especially in its special souvenirs. If you choose Hamedan for a trip, be sure to take a separate and empty suitcase with you so that you have enough space to buy and carry souvenirs of this city. Of course, you can’t take the historical buildings and the beauty of the city with you but don’t neglect the food and souvenirs of Hamedan. In this article, we are going to introduce Hamedan souvenirs.
Hamedan Edible Souvenirs
When it comes to souvenirs, many people think of sweets and pickles. We are one of those people. That is why we intend to start the explanation of Hamedan souvenirs by introducing its delicious foods in this section.
Hamedan Komaj
Komaj is a bread cooked in different regions of Iran and in different ways. But Hamedan Komaj bread is different from similar samples. When it comes to Hamedan edible souvenirs, Komaj is the first option that comes to many people’s minds. Hamedan Komaj is prepared in two simple and nutty ways and is consumed as breakfast or dinner. The dough of this traditional and popular type of bread is obtained from a combination of flour, sugar, yogurt or milk, butter, eggs, rose water, and cardamom. The core of Komaj bread can also be a mixture of chopped walnuts, sugar, and cinnamon powder. Hamedan Komaj’s pastry baking technique was registered in Iran’s heritage list at the beginning of the 2010s.
Hamedan Sheermal
Hamdanis have their type of Sheermal, which is also considered as their party sweets and they use it to serve their guests. Hamedan Sheermal is prepared from a combination of flour, milk, sugar powder, egg yolk, liquid oil, baking powder, and cardamom. Hamedan residents usually serve it with hot milk. Despite its structural similarity with other Sheermal breads, Hamedani Sheermal bread has many fans and is sold as a special and popular souvenir of Hamedan.
Hamedan Angosht-Pich
Angosht-Pich is considered a sweet and unique food of Hamedan, which in terms of ingredients and taste, looks similar to Gaz of Isfahan. But in terms of texture, it is a thick liquid without core. This sweet is more than a century old and is one of the oldest souvenirs of Hamedan. Egg whites, sugar, water, rose water, cardamom or cinnamon, and nettle (substances obtained from the nettle plant) are the main ingredients of Angosht-Pich. These ingredients are mixed to a certain extent until they become white and hard and take on a state like honey. For this reason, some people also call Angosht-Pich white honey. Angosht-Pich has many benefits. This unique food is usually white. But for variety, sometimes it is also prepared with saffron.
Hamedan Grape Syrup
The city of Malayer in Hamedan is known as the world capital of grapes. Certain types of grapes are very suitable for making grape syrup. For this reason, quality and delicious grape syrup is introduced as one of the best souvenirs of Hamedan.
Grape syrup has a high nutritional value and is a rich source of vitamins A and B, as well as magnesium and iron. Therefore, it is considered very useful in the prevention or treatment of some diseases such as anemia caused by iron deficiency. This popular and nutritious traditional food is especially consumed for breakfast to provide energy for the whole day.
Two types of grape syrups are produced in Hamedan: dark and thin grape syrup which is almost red and some people mix it with flour, and thick and light grape syrup, which has a different color and creamy texture. The red grape syrup is obtained from grape syrup that has been clarified with a special soil known as “white soil”. This type of syrup, in addition to the breakfast meal that is consumed with butter and bread, is also used to prepare Halva, cake, and bread.
The lighter grape syrup, which is called “white grape syrup”, is prepared from the red grape syrup. For this reason, to prevent color change, it must be stored in a cool place. This type of grape syrup has a special taste and together with various types of bread, it provides a hearty and delicious breakfast.
Hamedan Halva Zardeh
Halva Zardeh (Yellow Halva) is a popular and nutritious dessert of Hamedan, which has many benefits and has been registered in the country’s intangible heritage list. The name of this Halva comes from the egg yolk that is seen in its ingredients. To prepare Halva Zardeh, flour is roasted and then mixed with clarified butter to change its color. The mixture of egg yolk, sugar, rose water, cardamom, and saffron is added to the roasted flour and stirred until the Halva thickens.
In the main method of preparing Halva, the yolk, flour, or starch is removed. Yolk and sugar are beaten until it becomes creamy and then fried in butter. When the mixture reaches the required consistency, saffron, cardamom, and rose water are added to it and stirred until the Halva becomes elastic. This Halva is served in a bowl or a hollow dish and is served cold and refrigerated.
Hamedan Lozi Halva
Lozi Halva (rhombus Halva) is a traditional, famous, and delicious type of Hamedani Halva which, as its name implies, is cut in a rhombus shape. Lozi Halva is prepared in two colors, white and saffron, and is usually used as a dessert or alongside tea. Rice flour, walnut kernels, wheat bran, honey, and saffron are the basic ingredients of Hamedan Lozi Halva.
Borsaq (Hamedan Donought)
Borsaq is a kind of local sweet bread that is cooked in some regions of the country such as Kermanshah, Ilam, Lorestan, and Hamedan. Each region prepares Borsaq in its way and therefore, there are various recipes for Borsaq. However, perhaps the most important difference is in its sleek appearance.
Borsaq dough, which is prepared and cooked especially in Hamedan villages, is obtained from a combination of flour, sugar, eggs, milk, oil, turmeric, and cardamom. Hamdanians roll this dough into a round shape with the help of hands or a rolling pin, fry it in oil, and then cover its surface with powdered sugar. The nutty type of Borsaq is also seen in Hamedan, where cinnamon powder, cardamom powder, sugar, walnut kernels, pistachios, and almonds are put in the dough and then it is put in hot oil.
Hamedan Tea Bread
Tea bread (Naan Chai in Persian) is a delicious sweet that most people know as a Qazvin souvenir. But the provinces of Zanjan and Hamedan also have popular and similar souvenirs with the same name. This type of sweet has a low amount of sugar. Because of this reason, as a relatively harmless sweet, it replaces sugar with tea.
For this reason, it has been called “Naan Chai” since the past. Tea bread is one of the most delicious traditional Iranian sweets for Nowruz. Flour, yogurt, butter, and eggs, along with a small amount of powdered sugar, make up the basic ingredients of tea bread. This type of traditional sweet named Hamedan has been registered in the national heritage list.
Hamedan Turkish Delight
The sweetness of Hamedan Turkish Delight or Basloq is different from conventional Basloq. This difference is felt not only in its appearance but also in its aroma and taste. Grape syrup is used in the preparation of Hamedan Basloq. For this reason, its color is almost light brown and is very nutritious. Since grape syrup is mostly cooked in the city of Malayer, this type of Basloq is known as Malayeri Basloq.
To cook their special Basloq, the people of Malayer mix water, starch, grape syrup, sugar, and walnuts and stir constantly until it reaches the required thickness. Rose water is added and after it cools down, Basloq is cut. In another way of preparing Basloq, first, the walnut kernel is pulled into a thread with the help of a needle. The mixture of water, grape syrup, flour or starch, rose water, cardamom, and saffron is heated until it becomes thick and elastic. The string of walnuts is dipped in Basloq and then hung to dry.
Hamedan Pickle
In addition to all kinds of sweet and delicious foods, Hamedan also has high-quality and diverse pickles. More than 100 types of pickles can be found in Hamedan. For this reason, Hamedan can be called the city of pickles. Hamedani people make pickles from almost all available materials and use them, especially in winter. Hamedan’s people’s interest in pickles is rooted in the cold climate of this province. In the past, the variety and consumption of pickles in Hamedan has been more than in other regions. Therefore, it is not strange that pickle is one of the most important and popular souvenirs of Hamedan.
Pickles range from pepper, walnut, green bean, olive, corn, garlic, shallot, beetroot, mango, mushroom, cucumber, cabbage, aromatic vegetables, purslane, peas, eggplant, nuts, angelica, and even different fruits such as persimmons.
Handicrafts as Hamedan Souvenirs
With its 3,000-year historical and cultural background, Hamedan province is known as one of the most important hubs of Iran’s artisans and handicraft artists. Hamedan ranks second in Iran in terms of handicrafts. In the following, we will introduce you to Hamedan handicrafts in the form of souvenirs.
Leather: Luxury Souvenirs of Hamedan
Leather is one of those handicrafts that can be found in all cities of Iran. Of course, the quality of the leather depends on the climate of the region. The better the weather in the region, the fatter the cattle, and finally the better quality leather. The amount of art, precision, and elegance used in leather design is also very important and is considered one of the important factors in choosing a product. When you go to the markets of Hamedan, look for its leather. Undoubtedly, you will come across a bag or a shoe that will win your heart and you will buy it immediately!
Laljin Pottery: Iran’s Most Charming Pottery
Laljin is the pottery capital of Iran. When you travel to Hamedan, be sure to visit pottery workshops or stores and you will never leave empty-handed. Don’t worry about carrying them. Fortunately, these days, most of the reputable stores offer shipping. You choose your product, they send it to you in very strong and durable packaging. Maybe as soon as you get to your hotel, the postman will deliver the package to you.
Woodcrafts: Hamedan’s Highly Carved Products
Cities can claim to make good woodcrafts that have stout trees and dense forests. A lot of walnut trees are found in Hamedan, and this has made possible all kinds of products made of walnut wood in this city. Although you cannot take the sofa and table with you as souvenirs, you can get some wooden dishes or wooden tableware and keep the memory of your trip to Hamedan alive for years. Remember that the maintenance of wooden crafts also requires precision and skill. If you would like to have Hamedan souvenirs in the corner of your home or kitchen for many years, ask the seller about the guidelines of care to increase the durability of your product.
Morvar Weaving: the Delicate and Beautiful Art of Hamedan
Morvars are thin twigs of trees like pomegranate, which are used to weave different baskets. The art of Morvar weaving exists in several other cities of Iran. This industry is very time-consuming and difficult.
The person who has a piece of twig must weave their design before it dries. If you come across a workshop where Morvars are woven, look carefully at the hands of the artists. It is enough to slightly change the hand pressure or the direction of its rotation so that the design changes from one shape to another. That is why the Morvar weavers must do this with the utmost care so that their product reaches the customer with delicacy.
Kilim Weaving: an Art as Old as Human Civilization in Hamedan
Kilim weaving is an ancient art of the Persian people. Since the days when humans devised a thing as a rug, Kilims came into existence. These days, the oldest Iranian carpet belonging to the Achaemenid period speaks about the level of art and precision of the people of Iran. Hamedan or Hegmataneh is also one of the very old cities of Iran, which has the relic of the magnificent civilization of Persia. So it is not unlikely that you go to Hamedan market and find the most beautiful and elegant Kilims in Iran.
Coppersmithing and Toreutics: Engraving on Metal
Before non-stick dishes were introduced to Iranian kitchens, all women used to cook food in copper dishes whose aroma and taste reminded one of heaven. Copper is a vessel that has been sidelined many times and has returned to the market stronger than before. These days, you can see a world of designs in copper dishes, each of which is more charming than the other. Do not hesitate. Choose the design you want and give your kitchen another color and glaze. Don’t worry about carrying dishes. These are very strong and rarely damaged.
In addition to kitchen utensils, Hamedani artists use calligraphy to design some beautiful dishes and trays. They are decorated with all kinds of flower and bird designs which are among the examples of the Toreutics of the Hamedani people. Although rather expensive, they can be a great decoration for your home. They are long-lasting and even the passage of time cannot destroy them. Even these Hamedan souvenirs can be a memory for several generations after you.
Gold Plating and Silver Plating: Precious Antiques of Hamedan
Artists who delicately create motifs on copper sometimes create the same designs with more elegance and accuracy on gold and silver. You can see motifs made of silver in the old and traditional markets of Hamedan. Sometimes, they are produced in the form of very thin sheets, which are used to decorate glass, ceramics, and all kinds of metal. In short, to buy Hamedan handicrafts, you need to close your eyes and open your wallet. Do not doubt that the beauty and durability of these works are such that they will stay with you forever and you will never regret your purchase.
Enjoy Your Trip to Hamedan and Its Souvenirs
Travel is not limited to visiting attractions. A trip can be a visit to the traditional markets of a city—markets that depict the history, authenticity, and culture of a country. Here, we introduced some of Hamedan’s souvenirs and we saw that Hamedan, like other cities in Iran, offers countless souvenirs to tourists.
