Photos: Francisco Anzola, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 BerkeKayalarr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo credits
Photos: Francisco Anzola, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 Bernard Gagnon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 BerkeKayalarr, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Spice sellers of Kemeraltı
Your local guide
Yusuf Aksoy
View profile
Highlights
- Spice counters piled by colour
- Regional versus imported spices
- A family shop's best-selling blends
- What local cooks actually buy
- Kemeraltı's spice trade, up close
About this tour
This session stays with the spice sellers of Kemeraltı, close to the counters rather than the wider bazaar around them. You see sumac, cumin and dried chilli piled by colour, and hear from a shopkeeper about which blends sell to local cooks. Yusuf explains which spices are grown in the region and which travel further to reach the bazaar.
The call opens with a sound check at the first stall, then moves counter to counter as Yusuf asks sellers what is moving fastest that week. He answers questions live and sends a short list of the spices covered afterwards.
This suits anyone interested in regional food and trade rather than sightseeing alone. It also works as a shorter companion session to a wider bazaar walk.
Included
- Live video session with a local guide
- A close look at the dishes and where locals buy them
- A short list of places and dishes to try later
Not included
- Food and drinks shown on camera
- Travel to the city
Itinerary
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Welcome and sound check 5 min
The guide joins the video call, checks the picture and sound with you, and gives you a quick sense of Izmir before heading out.
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Spice stall counters 15 min
The camera moves close to counters piled with sumac, cumin and dried chilli, and Yusuf explains which spices are grown regionally and which arrive from further along the trade routes.
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A family spice shop 15 min
You see a shop Yusuf has known for years, and the owner talks briefly about which blends sell fastest to local cooks rather than to visitors.
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Your questions 7 min
Time to ask anything about Izmir: prices, safety, food, or whatever you are curious about.
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A short list to keep 3 min
Before you go, the guide sums up with a few things worth remembering: a dish to try: Kumru and Alsancak, worth a slower look.
Good to know
- A stable wifi or mobile connection makes the picture smoother than a shaky one.
- Any phone, tablet or laptop with a camera works. You watch, the guide does the walking.
- Times are shown in Istanbul time, so check the time where you are before you book.
- The session is not recorded, and recording it yourself is not allowed. Feel free to take your own notes.
- Ask questions any time, out loud or in the chat. The guide will pause to answer.
- Sessions run in small groups, up to 10 people, so there is room for everyone to ask something.
Questions about this tour
What will the session cover?
The guide walks through Izmir, showing you Spice stall counters and A family spice shop live on camera, plus whatever else you would like to see.
What happens if my connection drops?
Rejoin with the same link within a few minutes and the guide will catch you up on anything you missed.
Can I ask the guide questions during the session, or is it a fixed script?
Anything, any time. Sessions leave room for your own questions throughout, not just at the end.
Do I need to buy or cook anything?
No. This is a conversation: the guide describes the dishes and where to find them, so you can try them yourself whenever suits you.
How it works
- You get one join link after booking.
- Join from any device: phone, tablet or laptop.
- We connect on Google Meet; the link comes with your booking. I walk the bazaar live with my phone.
Times shown in Istanbul time (GMT+3)
Cancellation
Flexible
- Cancel up to 24 hours before the start: full refund.
- Cancel less than 24 hours before the start, or no-show: no refund.
- If the guide cancels or the date does not reach its minimum group: full refund.
- Cancel in My Account → Bookings; the refund is calculated from the start time in the tour's local time.
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Next: Thu 29 Oct · 10 seats left From 16,00 €
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