Talaat Store, Cairo

What to buy here: Hand blown glass works and ornaments.

As many different traditions and crafts were preserved by Egyptians since the ancient times, the glass-blowing craft makes no exception. An art with a very individual, authentic and exotic spirit - the process of making glass ornaments and perfume bottles would be nothing without the magic brought by the vivid colors and reflections.

Glass making was known in Egypt back in 2000 B.C., as the country has always been rich in the purest silica raw materials. Hand-blown glass craft flourished with the Arabian conquest, glass being used in mirrors, dishes, bottles, lamps, and windows, all in brilliant colors obtained by using metal oxides. Nowadays, its artistic touch can be enjoyed in many products like small decor ornaments, or fancy colored vases and bowls. Must-have products are small, beautifully designed perfume and Kohl bottles, which come in thousand variations and sizes, thin and light-weighted, as well as large and heavy pieces. Be careful and request if not provided, an appropriate packaging as these delicate glass pieces, with their fine details and ornamentation are quite fragile. Also look for bottles with a steady, properly shaped base so the glass product doesn't lean when filled, a common issue with thin glass bottles.

Glass works and ornaments are easily found everywhere in Cairo, specially at El Khan “The Old Market” where naturally, all the interesting souvenirs are concealed.