Bzourieh market in the heart of Damascus: Sweetened, perfumed and … healing

Souk Bzourieh: One of the largest roofed bazaars inside the old city, crossing souk Madhat Pasha in a cross called Madanat alShahm, and ends near Azem Palace. It was built during the Seleucid period 1057 AD, and renewed in the Ottoman period by Husein Nazem Pasha 1895-1911 who has a good hand in covering most of the old souks of Damascus.

In Bzourieh one can buy all kinds of candies, dried fruit, candles of all sizes and colors, in addition to spices and medical herbs.

Damascus is famous for its historical markets, where beside the famous Hamidiya market, other markets, including the Bzourieh market, which receives customers and transmit smells of spices, dried fruits, candies, and carefully selected medical herbs and perfumes.

In addition, to magical prescriptions Bzourieh druggist are said to have the most effective treatments of modern medicine.

In Buzourieh you can find everything related to weddings like candles, candies, chocolate, nougat stuffed with pistachios with different shapes and flavors, sugar cane and candy floss; in addition to various types of natural juices, whether condensed liquid such as mulberry syrup and rose or dry in the form of powder packed in bags or cans, licorice and tamarind, and do not forget Qamaruddin made from apricots. Usually dried fruits are made of apricots, apples, pears, walnuts, citrus, oranges and other fruits boiled with sugar and covered with a layer of gelatin. Herbs and plants are made of dry medical flowers.

Bzourieh market is booming in the winter with huge jars of stacked eggplant stuffed with walnuts, red pepper and homemade olive oil, which is a material that every Syrian family is keen to supply for the winter.  Housewives buy “Baladi” walnuts from this particular market, which has earned trust as well as buying tamarind, and dried figs.

“Figs are energy-saving food, especially in the winter, and despite the variety of sweets, people still love this natural variety and use it in popular prescriptions,” says Ahmed El-Hennawi, a seller of dried figs on the market. He adds that figs are served in the countryside as a dessert alternative, where dried figs are sprinkled with some tahini.

Syriatimes interviewed a number of herbalists in Bzourieh market, one of them Munzer Al Abidin, one of the most famous traders in the market, says: “Bzourieh Market contains several small markets that are specialized branches, including Attareen Market (perfume market) which is characterized by small shops spread on both sides and specialized in selling medical herbs, exotic blends and bottles that have strange shapes and multiple colors. Different names, including the so-called red-eyed rooster, as well as the remains of animals hanging from the façade of shops, like:  sea animals, sponges, sea star, snails, and shells; which are considered a cure for some elderly people who only believe in the natural benefits of the supernatural and magical recipes of Attareen.

Work in those ancient shops in Attareen market, which resemble pharmacies, are inherited from generations to generation, all belonging to well-known Damascene families like Attar and Zain al-Abidin. “I inherited this shop from my father, who inherited it from his grandfather. For hundreds of years, my family has been working in medical herbs industry since we believe in its value. We are not the only ones in the market who inherit the profession.”  A well-known Damascene Attar (perfumer) whose family members have inherited this profession for hundreds of years. He continued, “Herbal medicine and treatment have been used for ages as a cure from diseases in addition to not having any side effects, as in the case of chemical drugs.”

Ziad al-Attar, owner of the Kahraman store for selling spices, said that the shop dates back to fifty years, was initially a salt mill than specialized in selling spices. “We do not only sell, but we get more specialized by studying the efficacy of every plant we brought to our shop,” he said.

He explains, “Our shop Kahraman, is famous for a mixture we blend and sell in the winter. There is a huge demand for it. It is made up of seven varieties of herbs and medical and aromatic plants, including Melissa, chamomile, rose, khatmia, thyme, spring flower, rosemary and linden. It is used to prevent respiratory and thoracic aches in winter. ”

 “Most people still believe in herbal medicine. Many customers visit the Bzourieh and seek herbal treatment to diseases and aches they suffer from, such as the diamond flower that is used to treat urinic disease, corn fibers , and cherry snails to treat rations” Attar said. “I come here to buy natural herbs,” says Ahmed Hadidi, who is visiting the Bzourieh market. “The market has a wide variety of materials that cure almost all diseases. All herbs and medical plants you find here are at affordable prices. Famous perfumers in the market will give you useful prescriptions. ”

Caraway is sweet spice is given in receiving the new birth

Interviewed by:  Haifaa Mafalani

Photography: Mahfouz Abo Hadir