Qeshm Souvenirs Are Unparalleled in the World
There is an island with an area of 1500 square kilometers in the south of Iran and in the clear waters of the Persian Gulf, which is like a piece of paradise, where there are countless tourists every day of the year and they are welcomed with the best comfort, accommodation, and entertainment facilities. This island is very old and there are historical monuments from the Achaemenid and Sasanian eras. There are also natural and pristine landscapes on this island. When you travel to Qeshm Island, you will come across different types of souvenirs that can be difficult to choose from. If you are already familiar with these souvenirs, you can choose more easily and you will spend less time browsing Qeshm markets. In this article, we are going to introduce the Qeshm souvenirs.
Qeshm Edible Souvenirs
Undoubtedly, all the cities of Iran have special edible souvenirs, apart from handicrafts, which are considered to be the main souvenirs of that region or city. Fortunately, Qeshm foods are both sweet and sour, so you can enjoy these foods with any kind of taste. In the following, we will introduce the edible souvenirs of Qeshm. If you are one of those people who care more about food, don’t miss this section.
Qeshm Spices
If you have ever traveled to the south of Iran, you have noticed that spices play an essential role in southern cuisine. Qeshm is no exception to this rule and one of the best souvenirs of Qeshm Island is its special spices. There are many stores and shops in Qeshm that sell all kinds of these southern spices. Due to the fact that a small amount of spices in cooking can change the appetite and taste, southern spices can be a very good choice for buying souvenirs from Qeshm Island.
Qeshm’s Local Breads
Everywhere in Qeshm, you can see women preparing bread. There are different types of these breads and various spices and sauces are used in their cooking. Tamushi bread is one of them. It is a thin bread that is combined with eggs, cheese, Mahiyaveh, or Suragh. Mahiyaveh and Suragh are sauces made from sardines. Cheese bread is another bread that you can get in most shops. This bread is eaten in Qeshm during breakfast and has a pleasant taste.
You may not believe it, but more than 20 types of local bread are baked on Qeshm Island. If you love bread and want to taste the local loaves of bread in this area, visit the local pastry shops or centers on your next trip. For example, Tamushi bread is one of the most popular local breads that is cooked in Qeshm Island. To cook this delicious bread, first heat the pan a little and then mix flour with a little water and spread a thin layer of it inside the pan. Now they pour eggs or cheese on the bread and wait until it is well cooked. To serve this bread, they use Mahiyaveh as well, which is prepared from sardine, mustard, salt, coriander, and fennel.
Qeshm Date
South of Iran is famous for its dates, and Qeshm is no exception. There are palm groves on this island and their products are quality dates that you can buy as souvenirs. Dates are a nutritious fruit that grows in tropical places, and Qeshm Island is considered the place where these dates grow due to its warm climate. You can buy dates in different stores and shops. But one of the most attractive places to buy dates is the local markets of Qeshm, where you can try freshly picked dates and buy them as souvenirs.
Qeshm Heller Cake
Heller cake is one of the special sweets of this island. If you visit the sweets shops of Qeshm Island or ask the locals, Heller cake will be the most delicious souvenir of this region. Heller cake is a sponge cake made from flour, eggs, vanilla, sugar, and some water. Although you can find this cake in most pastry shops on Qeshm Island, the village of Heller, 18 km from the island, is considered its main place.
Although you can find this cake in most pastry shops on Qeshm Island, Heller village, 18 km from the island, is considered its main origin. People and tourists believe that it is not found anywhere else like this kit and its flavor.
Qeshm Masqati
The combination of starch, rose water, saffron, nuts, butter, etc. makes a delicious sweet called Masqati, which is considered one of the souvenirs of Shiraz. But in Qeshm you can also prepare this sweet and enjoy its taste.
Qeshm Handicrafts
After walking around Qeshm and buying local breads that are cooked in this area, you can go to its handicrafts. Various types of handicrafts are made by women and girls artists in Qeshm, which can be very enjoyable for you to buy. In the following, we review some Qeshm handicrafts that you can take home as souvenirs.
Ornaments and decorative items
Everywhere in Qeshm, you will see jewelry such as necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. that are made with shells. Qeshmi people make sculptures with these shells or use them to decorate mirrors, bags, pen holders, etc.
Golabeton-Sewn Products
In the art of Golabeton embroidery, ancient Iranian motifs such as Slimi, Mihrabi, paisley, etc. are placed on the fabric with gold and silver threads and decorate trousers, scarves, and women’s clothes. Of course, these days gold and silver threads are no longer used for Glabeton embroidery. Rather, artists use gold-coated threads.
Shak-Sewn Products
The women and girls of Qeshm weave strips with a diameter of 5 to 50 mm using a small pillow and several spools of thread. These strips have a very high value and are sewn on the hem of the pants, the edge of the sleeves the collar, and the sides of the skirt. One of the reasons for the high price of southern clothes and their value is these strips.
In the art of Shak-Bafi (Shak embroidery), a small pillow and several spools of thread are used to weave strips with a diameter of 5 to 50 mm. Although these strips look simple, they can have a very high value and can be used to decorate pants, the edge of sleeves, and the sides of skirts. If you are a lover of southern clothes, you can take the clothes decorated with woven fabric as souvenirs of Qeshm Island for your loved ones.
Qeshm Khos Embroidery
In Khos Duzi (Khos embroidery), with a type of thread called Naqdeh, whose silver color is the most widely used, they create patterns on the fabric such as bates and multi-feathered stars.
Khos Duzi is another type of traditional sewing that is popular in Qeshm. For this art, they use a special thread called Naqdeh, so that they can sew designs like paisley, and star on the fabrics. If you love traditional fabrics with these designs, you can buy one of them as a souvenir.
Qeshm Traditional clothes and fabrics
The first thing that catches the eye upon entering the southern regions, especially Qeshm Island, is the colorful and embroidered clothes that the locals wear. These clothes are prepared and sewn according to the climate of this island. In addition, its beauty has become one of the trending subjects of photography in recent years. You can buy Qeshm local clothes from the markets of this island for yourself or as a souvenir for your loved ones. But to prepare these clothes, many stitches are used that increase the elegance and beauty of the clothes. These sewing techniques are among the arts of the warm-hearted people of Qeshm Island.
If you like, you can buy for yourself among the countless designs and colors of Qeshm traditional clothes or make your loved ones happy by buying them as souvenirs. Traditional decorations can be seen in Qeshm bags, shoes, and jewelry, and you can get them at more reasonable prices. If you visit the market of Qeshm, you will find a variety of traditional fabrics with patterns that you can sew beautiful clothes with.
One of the traditional clothing of the women of Qeshm Island is their special burqa or headscarves, which come in different types and you can buy them as souvenirs. The burqa comes in various colors, from red and green to black, and usually covers from above the eyebrow to below the nose. Jalopol is also a cover for the head of Qeshm women, which is very thin and they wear a veil over it.
Qeshm Sond Weaving
Qeshm men and women make palm tree leaves in various forms, such as underlays, covering the roofs of houses, or wooden beds. This art is called Sond-bafi. Leafy branches of palm trees are used to make a casket. These branches are woven together with the help of ropes obtained from palm leaves and they are used to cover residential houses.
Qeshm Mat weaving and basket weaving
Products such as mats and baskets are also produced in Qeshm and offered to tourists using the fibers of various plants available on the island. In fact, one of the best and most attractive handicrafts that can be remembered from Qeshm is products that are woven with mats. For this, plant fibers are used to weave mats, and unique products are obtained.
Kapkaap Products
The heat of the air in the hot seasons of the year is unbearable in Qeshm Island. Fishermen and boat builders are working in this heat and put their feet on the hot ground. To solve the problem of these people, Kapkaap was formed. It is a sandal-shaped shoe made of wood, which is sometimes produced with additional wood in shoemaking workshops. These days, Kapkaap making is one of the most important industries in Qeshm. This shoe has a lot of resistance. People who have to stand for hours and work can benefit from these types of shoes.
Qeshm Kilim
Kilim is one of the hand-woven fabrics that can be found everywhere in Iran. Qeshm people are also engaged in carpet weaving and using silk, goat hair, sheep’s wool, or other domestic cattle to create a different look and color.
The Kilims that are woven in this area use the geometric motifs and local motifs of the island. What distinguishes Qeshm rugs from other similar products is the two-sidedness of the Kilims. These Kilims are so light that they can be easily carried. If you have decided to buy a valuable Qeshm souvenir and take it home with you, the Kilims produced in this area will undoubtedly be the best option.
Qeshm Oud: A Traditional Instrument and Souvenir
Oud, which is called Barbat in Persian, is a historical Iranian instrument that has an ear-pleasing, melancholic sound and an impressive appearance. This instrument is a bit similar to the Tar and Setar, but it has different dimensions and is used a lot in Iranian traditional music.
The art of oud-making has been popular in Qeshm Island for years and is considered one of the most authentic local arts of this region. But unfortunately, currently, the number of workshops that professionally follow this industry does not even reach the fingers of one hand. We hope for the day when we will see the prosperity of this product again with the support of the organization of cultural heritage, handicrafts, and tourism. So, if you buy an Oud as a Qeshm Souvenir will help revitalize this local industry.
With Qeshm Souvenirs, You Will Maintain Your Sweet Memories Forever
Aside from delicious edibles, most of the souvenirs of Qeshm Island are related to handicrafts. The people of Qeshm, like other cities of Iran, have had their special interest and expertise in handicrafts such as carpet weaving, tape embroidery, quilting, mat weaving, etc., and many of them still earn money in this way. These handicrafts can be a very good choice for those who intend to buy souvenirs or souvenirs from Qeshm Island. In addition to these handicrafts, you can also buy local breads and sweets as souvenirs.
