Aswan karkade (dried hibiscus) + Egyptian spices, 1kg
The definitive Aswan taste at pennies per pot — a kilo of the world's best hibiscus costs less than two glasses of karkade at a Western cafe.
Price: 200 EGP (Fair 2026 price E£100-200/kg (~US$2-4) for deep-crimson whole Aswan flowers; over E£300/kg is the tourist price — walk)
Where to buy: Aswan Souk (best quality and price in Egypt); Cairo's Khan el-Khalili spice stalls charge 2-3x
Price checked 2026-07-03
- Quality test: flowers should be large, whole, deep crimson — dark brown, crumbled, or dusty means old stock
- Upper Egypt (Aswan) karkade is the global gold standard; served hot in winter, iced in summer
- Stock spices too while you're there: whole cumin, coriander, dukkah mix — E£50-150 per 100g bags, and skip 'Egyptian saffron' (it's usually safflower, worth pennies)
- Sealed packets, in your checked bag, declared on arrival — fine for both US and India