Part of the fun of traveling is bringing things home that help you recall your trip — or gifting them to others! Here are Top 4 Saudi souvenirs.
Saudi Dates
Not only are dates plentiful in Saudi, but they also occupy significant spots in a Saudi’s life. “Dates are vital to the culture of hospitality,” or hafawah, explains Felicia Campbell, a cookbook author who specializes in food of the Arabian Gulf. In fact, dates are routinely offered to guests entering a home. Ajwa dates are unique because they are dry on the outside but soft and very sweet on the inside. They are among the most widely distributed dates in the world and — because of their religious significance — one of the most expensive. (Muslims eat Ajwa dates because they are thought to have healing properties.) While Ajwa dates are cultivated in Medina, they’re ubiquitous throughout the kingdom.
Oud Perfume, Oil or Wood
Oud is derived from the heartwood of the aquilaria tree, Top 4 Saudi souvenirs whose resin may be distilled into oil, blended into perfume or simply burned as incense. Like dates, During the Hajj, pilgrims to Makkah and Medina will also encounter the scent of oud, which is burned in the Great Mosque. Hence, nearby vendors sell small packets of oud chips as souvenirs. The scent of oud varies considerably depending on the tree it came from and how it was cultivated (as well as who is wearing it). But generally, it’s described as warm and woody or smoky and sweet souvenirs.
Saudi Spices
A Lasting Friendship with a Saudi
Saudis are very friendly people. Do not be shy to smile or instigate a conversation with strangers — you may very well be invited to their home or to a feast, says Ebrahim Moosa, professor of Islamic thought and Muslim societies at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. You may end up with a friend for life souvenirs .
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