Explore Azerbaijan's Best Shopping Experiences And Souvenirs

Azerbaijan, known as the Land of Fire, is a shopper's paradise. From international brands in large malls to street shopping, Azerbaijan has it all. The country is famous for its traditional carpets, with each of the seven carpet-producing regions having its own technology, patterns, and colours. The national scarves, or kelagayi, are also popular souvenirs, with intricate patterns and designs. Other popular items include jewellery, copper cookware, ceramics, and local sweets such as baklava and halva.

Handmade carpets

The art of weaving is passed down from generation to generation, with girls learning the craft from their mothers, grandmothers, and other female relatives from a young age. Weaving is typically done during the cold winter months, with the whole extended family participating. The men shear the sheep and collect the wool, while the women collect natural materials to make dyes. The wool is then dyed and spun into yarn, ready for weaving.

Azerbaijan rugs are known for their intricate designs and bright colours, often featuring red, blue, cream, green, and yellow hues. The patterns are not chosen randomly but are passed down through traditional songs and stories, with younger weavers adding their own personalities through various symbols and motifs.

The cost of an Azerbaijani carpet depends on several factors, including size, the complexity of the weave, materials used, and the presence of a pile. The best carpets can be found in the shops of Old Baku (Icherisheher), on Torgovaya Street, and in shops near the Maiden Tower. To avoid buying an ordinary artisan rug sold as a valuable rarity, it is recommended to visit the Azerbaijan Carpet Museum before purchasing.

Jewellery and souvenir weapons

Baku, Azerbaijan, is famous for its jewellery and skilled jewellers. The city's rich cultural heritage of goldsmithery has resulted in two independent jewellery schools: shebeke and khatamkarlyg.

The shebeke technique involves crafting ornaments that resemble fine lace woven from gold or silver metal. This method is extremely complex and requires the constant practice of a master. The final product is airy, elegant, and shiny. The khatamkarlyg technique is a kind of mosaic crafted from "nails" of precious metals. Dozens of hours are needed to create one such masterpiece, with the price of jewellery starting from 1000 manat.

When buying jewellery in Baku, it is recommended to only purchase from specialised stores that can provide a full set of accompanying documentation, which will be checked when crossing international borders.

The skill of Baku's jewellers is also reflected in the city's souvenir weapons. Traditional Azerbaijani daggers, often adorned with precious and semi-precious stones, make for great gifts.

Traditional pear-shaped tea glasses

Armudu glasses are typically made from glass, porcelain, faience, or silver, and often weigh around 100 grams. When pouring tea, it is customary to leave a gap of 1-2 cm at the top, which is known as the "dodag yeri" or "a spot for the lips". This ensures a comfortable drinking experience.

These traditional tea glasses are readily available in souvenir shops and antique boutiques in the Old City of Baku, with prices starting from about 35 manats. The cost of an armudu glass depends on the craftsmanship and materials used, with more intricate designs and finer materials commanding higher prices. For example, you may find crystal or hand-painted porcelain armudu glasses that are more expensive but make for exquisite additions to your tea set.

The armudu glass is an iconic symbol of Azerbaijani tea ceremonies and hospitality. No household in Azerbaijan is complete without a set of these elegant tea glasses. When visiting Azerbaijan, be sure to participate in a traditional tea ceremony and savour the experience of drinking tea from these distinctive pear-shaped glasses.

Tableware and ceramics

Azerbaijan is a shopper's paradise, with a plethora of shopping centres, boutiques, and souvenir shops. One of the most memorable souvenirs you can bring back from Azerbaijan is tableware and ceramics. Here is a detailed guide to help you navigate your options:

Armudu Glasses

Armudu glasses, also known as "pear-shaped" glasses, are an integral part of Azerbaijani tea culture. The unique shape, narrower in the middle and wider at the top and bottom, ensures that the tea at the top remains warm while the bottom half stays hot. You can find these glasses in various materials such as porcelain, stained glass, silver, or crystal. The handmade armudu with intricate floral patterns or buta (a national pattern resembling flames) are highly valued for their artistry. Armudu glasses can be purchased at souvenir shops or on the streets of the Old City, with prices starting at around 20-30 manats.

Ceramics have a long history in Azerbaijan, with a rich collection of simple, unglazed, glazed, and decorated pieces discovered during archaeological excavations in the Old City. One of the most common ceramic souvenirs is the chirag, an ancient oil lamp used for lighting in medieval homes. You can also find painted sets of glasses and plates, as well as man and woman salt and pepper shakers, in bazaars and souvenir shops. Additionally, the Old Town is home to antique shops selling copper tableware, including plates, jugs, and vases, with prices starting at 20 manats.

Tea Sets and Accessories

Azerbaijan has a long-standing tea-drinking culture, and tea serving is an important part of their traditions. Along with Armudu glasses, you can find elegant tea sets and accessories such as teapots, sugar bowls, and trays. These sets often feature intricate designs and patterns, making them perfect for both functional and decorative purposes.

Table Linen

Table linens, such as tablecloths and napkins, are also popular items to purchase in Azerbaijan. Look for those made from dense fabric with gold embroidery and traditional patterns like buta. These linens add a touch of elegance to any dining experience and are both practical and aesthetically pleasing.

National clothing and accessories

Women's Clothing

The traditional women's costume in Azerbaijan consists of under and outer garments, with bag-shaped "veil" cover and rubend, a shutter for the face, being important parts of the costume. The outerwear is typically made from brightly coloured fabrics, with the luxury of the clothing depending on the social status of the family. It often includes various types of jewellery, such as gold and silver beads and buttons.

A short jacket called an arkhalig is considered one of the most common types of clothing in all regions of the country. Women often wore a gold, gilded silver, or leather belt above this jacket. The style of clothing also reflected the marital status and age of the wearer, with young girls' clothing noticeably different from that of married women. Young ladies wore more colourful and bright dresses.

One of the most common women's headwear was the kelagayi, a silk scarf that protected them from both the hot sun and the cold wind. Coloured painted kelagayi was popular among young girls and, since 2014, kelagayi has been included in UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.

Other common types of women's clothing include the chadra, a suck-formed shawl; the chepken, a tight-fitting outerwear shirt with long, hidden sleeves; the kulaja, a knitted shirt with long sleeves; and the arkhalig, a sleeveless jacket worn in cold weather.

Men's Clothing

Unlike female clothing, male national costumes were similar in almost all areas of Azerbaijan. Men's clothing always represented the class affiliation of its owner. The prominent fabrics used in traditional dress for men include silk, cashmere, and satin.

The Papaq, a hat stitched with lamb fur, was the most popular headdress for men and a symbol of dignity and prestige. Men never took off their papaqs or hats, and it was considered shameful to go out without a hat.

The national outerwear for men consists of a ust koyney (shirt) or chepken, arkhalig, gaba, chukha, and kurk. The arkhalig is a long, tight, waist-jacket made of fabrics including silk, satin, cloth, cashmere, and velvet, depending on the social status of its owner. The gaba is male humeral outerwear made from tirma, an expensive shawl fabric with a woven pattern of wool or silk. The chukha is male humeral outerwear with layers and gathers that is detachable at the waist, made of cloth, tirma, and homespun textiles. The kurk is a collared lamb-fur coat without fasteners and decorated with embroidery.

Frequently asked questions