The best Turkish gifts are things people use when they welcome guests: Turkish delight, kolonya (cologne), tea glasses, coffee cups and serving trays. For under $30, choose lokum, kolonya or a set of tea glasses; for around $50, a tray or a tea set with saucers; and for around $100, a 6-person coffee set or a teapot.
We are a Turkish family that has lived in Canada for nearly ten years, and these are the gifts we bring, receive and see being passed around at every visit. Below, ideas are grouped first by budget, then by occasion.
Gift ideas by budget
Up to $30: small gifts with a big welcome
Small gifts are very much part of Turkish visiting culture. Nobody arrives empty-handed, and something sweet or fragrant is always appreciated. Browse our gifts under $30 for:
- Turkish delight. A box of Malatya Pazarı lokum in rose, pomegranate or vanilla from our Turkish delight collection is the classic hostess gift.
- Kolonya. Turkish cologne from Eyüp Sabri Tuncer and Rebul. The Eyüp Sabri Tuncer Scents of Istanbul mini set, with five small bottles, is an easy introduction. More in our Turkish cologne collection.
- Olive oil soaps from Eyüp Sabri Tuncer and Mehmet Aydın.
- Tea glasses. A set of six Paşabahçe or LAV glasses, or an ACAR Osmanlı tea set for two.
- Serving pieces. ACAR covered Turkish delight dishes, sugar bowls and decorative tea spoon sets in silver tone, gold tone and antique finishes.
Up to $50: something for the table
At this level, you can give a piece that will come out every time guests visit. See our gifts under $50 for:
- Serving trays from Özlife in plain and gold finishes. Tea and coffee are always served on a tray.
- 12-piece tea sets with six glasses and six saucers from LAV, Perotti, Paşabahçe and Özlife.
- 2-person coffee sets with a metal tray from ACAR, a lovely gift for a couple.
- ACAR Zemzem glass serving sets, including gold-trimmed versions.
Up to $100: a gift for the home
For a wedding, a milestone or a close friend, our gifts under $100 include:
- 6-person coffee cup and saucer sets from Kosova and ACAR, many with gold details. Our guide on choosing Turkish coffee cups can help you pick.
- Turkish teapot sets from Özlife, including family-size double teapots.
- ACAR 6-person coffee sets with a metal tray, in Ottoman-inspired designs and several metal finishes.
Over $100: the generous gift
For weddings and new homes, our bridal and new home gifts collection includes Özlife bridal cookware sets, Cottowels 100% cotton family bathrobe sets, ACAR copper teapot sets and porcelain dinnerware sets, plus cutlery sets.
Gift ideas by occasion
Housewarming
In Turkish homes, the first thing a new neighbour is offered is tea. That makes a teapot or a tea set one of the most practical housewarming gifts there is. Add a pack of Turkish tea or a box of lokum to make it ready to use on day one. A serving tray is another safe choice that suits almost any kitchen.
Weddings and çeyiz
Çeyiz is the collection of household items a bride, and often her family, gathers before the wedding. It traditionally includes coffee and tea sets, cookware, serving pieces and textiles such as towels and bathrobes. A 6-person coffee set, a bridal cookware set or a bathrobe set is a gift that fits right in. If you are not sure what the couple already has, a set of serving trays or a set of tea glasses is rarely a duplicate anyone minds. For the wider range, see our Turkish gift sets.
The holiday season
For Christmas and New Year gifts in Canada, Turkish pieces stand out because they are different from the usual mug or candle. A 2-person coffee set with a bag of Turkish coffee, a box of lokum with a small covered dish, or a kolonya mini set are all good choices for colleagues, teachers and friends discovering Turkish culture for the first time.
Hostess gifts
When you are invited for dinner, a box of Turkish delight is the traditional choice. Kolonya is another: in Türkiye it is often offered to guests to freshen their hands after a meal or on arrival. Olive oil soap is a practical gift that almost everyone uses.
Eid (Bayram)
In Türkiye, Ramadan Bayramı is also called Şeker Bayramı, the "Sugar Feast", because sweets and lokum are offered to every visitor. Families visit elders, children go door to door and kolonya is offered at the entrance. Good Bayram gifts include a box of lokum with a Turkish delight dish, a kolonya set, or a coffee set for the family that hosts everyone. Eid dates follow the lunar calendar and move earlier each year, so check the date ahead of time if you are ordering from elsewhere in Canada.
Tips for choosing a Turkish gift
- Pair a set with something to put in it. Tea glasses with Çaykur tea, coffee cups with Mehmet Efendi coffee, or a dish with lokum.
- Match metal finishes. Many ACAR serving pieces come in silver tone, gold tone, tinned and antique finishes, so you can build a matching set over time.
- Think about how they host. Big families get the most use from sets for six; couples and students love sets for two.
- Order ahead. We ship from Toronto to addresses across Canada with Canada Post, and shipping is calculated at checkout.
Unused items in their original packaging can be returned within 30 days, which helps when you are buying for someone else.
Frequently asked questions
What is a traditional Turkish gift?
Turkish delight, kolonya, tea glasses and Turkish coffee cup sets are among the most traditional gifts. They are all linked to hospitality and are used whenever guests visit.
What should I bring to a Turkish home as a guest?
A box of Turkish delight or other sweets is the most common choice. Flowers, kolonya or a small item for the home are also welcome.
What is a good Turkish wedding gift?
A 6-person coffee set, a tea set, a teapot or a cookware set are classic choices, since these are traditional çeyiz items the couple will use for years.
What do you give for Eid in Turkish culture?
Sweets such as lokum, kolonya for guests, and small gifts or pocket money for children are customary. Families who host often appreciate a coffee or tea set.
