Clay pottery in Cyprus dates way back to the late Neolithic period. The Cypriots would give the pottery a ceramic coat and painted glaze and often decorate their homes with it. What better way to commemorate this amazing craft of ceramics and pottery than gifting pottery from North Cyprus. Design 74 is a famous pottery shop in Kyrenia which offers many different painted designs such as ceramic pots of all shapes and sizes, olive oil jugs, and intricately designed Cypriot coffee cups. Coffee cups are a very iconic gift in Cyprus because of the art of coffee cup reading. Cypriot coffee reading is certainly a very popular ritual which involves friends, reading symbols from the motifs of the coffee grains inside the cups and reading what the future holds for their fellow friends or relatives. There are beautiful motif designs from geometric to symbols such as the lemon tree or olive tree patterns on the pots to take away with you.
Handmade Pottery, North Cyprus
Traditional olive oil soap has a beautiful, fresh, earthy aroma and it’s full of minerals to enrich the skin; it’s made from pure olive oil and rich in vitamin E. Furthermore, it moisturizes and nourishes the skin, resulting in beautiful, smooth, and toned skin. In addition, Olive oil soap also has great antiseptic and antifungal properties which can heal wounds. Olive oil soap is an iconic item to give someone. What gets more iconic than the olive, the fruit of all gifts?
Organic Olive Oil Soap, North Cyprus
Lefkaritika is the term to describe a special kind of embroidery that can be found all over the island. These embroidered gifts, whether it be a pendant, notebook, bookmark, earrings, bags or even dresses make the perfect gift to bring home from Cyprus. Lefkaritika originates from the village of Pano Lefkara found in the southeastern region of Cyprus dating back from the 14th century through the influence of the Venetian Italians.
Among the four basic elements of Lefkara lace are the hemstitch, cut work, satin stitch fillings and needlepoint edging. Ancient Greek and Byzantine geometric patterns, indigenous crafts, and the embroidery of Venetian courtiers have all played a role in it. Overall, it’s a great gift of tradition to pass on.
Lefkara Lacework, North Cyprus
The zucchini scrub is made up of the fibers of a zucchini plant after they have been dried out for the purposes of bathing. They have been used in Turkish baths (hamams) to exfoliate the skin for millennia. They are natural and are intricately designed to create the perfect bathing experience. They are boiled in warm water before use. This is a great gift to take away as a souvenir and a great token of Cypriot culture.
Organic Dry Zucchini Scrub, North Cyprus
There is a Cypriot is saying, let’s eat sweets, to utter sweetness. Sweets brings people together so what better gift is there than a sweet treat to transport people and let them get a taste of Cyprus firsthand. Decadent Baklava, Turkish delights or sugarcoated almonds surely make a great gift for friends and family.
Baklava, North Cyprus
The carob tree is cultivated in the Mediterranean and North Africa, and the fruit, which resembles a tropical bean, is delicious with a very sweet and distinctive taste. Its flavour is similar to caramel and is frequently compared to chocolate. Chocolate alternatives are made from the carob bean too as a healthier alternative. In Cyprus, you can find many traditional carob products to take away such as syrups, powders and jams all made from this incredible fruit!
Carob Beans Powder, North Cyprus
Author: Sevilay Shakir
