Layan Damanhouri
Saudi Gazette
Located among the thousands of little shops in the Spice Bazaar in the heart of Istanbul, one particular shop attracts both locals, tourists from all over the world, including celebrities.
Uzucular Baharat, an old family business that goes back to 1886, will mark their 130th anniversary by next year. This spice shop attracts visitors of all ages wanting to enrich their homemade cooking with exotic spices used in old family recipes still live today.
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Ahmet Kadioglu offering spices at his family's store at the Spice Bazaar[/caption]
Ahmet Kadioglu and his sister Bilge are from the fifth generation of their family and are currently running the business. They have successfully maintained the original recipes of traditional cooking carrying forth their ancestors’ legacy.
“We blend spices and mix them”, said Ahmet. The exact ingredients remain a secret.
Ucuzcular Baharat sell a variety of spice seeds, grounded spices, and special blends.
The trade goes back to 480 years ago in the city of Taif in today’s Saudi Arabia, which was previously an Ottoman province. The family then moved Egypt to the cities located on the Spice Route. After many years of managing the trade, the family decided to continue their trade in Istanbul in the center of the Ottoman Empire.
Today, Ucuzcular Baharat lies at the heart of the Spice Bazaar to deliver wholesome traditional taste of Turkish cuisine. In addition to their famous spices, they also carry curries and other types of seasoning, most notably their high quality saffron specially delivered from Iran.
Ucuzcular Baharat at the Spice Market in Istanbul
Spices:
• Janissary Spice, a traditional rich blend, is used for breakfast in omelettes, eggs, and skillets. It can be mix it with tabouli and quinoa. It can also be simply mixed with olive oil and for dipping.
• Salad spice is also a favorite to many. Made with sumac, it is mixed with olive oil and added to any salad. It contains a sour taste so it remains a substitute for lemon.
• Fish spice, made with sea salt, is considered a healthy additive and contains valuable minerals. It’s best used for white-colored fish.
• For a spicier flavor, the Ottoman spice can be used for any dish such as red meat, soup, rice, vegetables, chicken, pasta, and pizza. Ahmet adds, “I call it the magic spice because this makes any dish tastes delicious and it saves the day!”
