Where flavour lives: 5 cities with iconic spice markets
The pursuit of flavour has long shaped global trade. Before modern logistics made ingredients universally available, the world’s spice markets were central hubs of commerce, where goods, ideas and cultures moved alongside pepper, cinnamon and countless other aromatics. Their atmosphere, rich with the scent of dried spices, offers a direct link to the trade routes that once connected continents.
Visiting these markets today is more than a shopping experience. It is a way to understand how spices influenced local cuisine, supported economies and became part of a city’s identity. Many remain active, not as relics but as working centres of daily life, where vendors, cooks and travellers converge.
Their continued relevance shows that even in an era of convenience, the communal and sensory act of choosing spices endures. These cities give travellers a chance to see how history, commerce and food culture intersect, preserving traditions that have shaped global cooking for centuries.
Read more: What to buy at Nishiki Market: 5 classic Kyoto foods worth seeking out
Old Delhi, India: Khari Baoli
Asia's largest wholesale spice market is less a destination and more an immersion. The air in Khari Baoli, Delhi, is thick with centuries of trade and the intense scent of chillies and turmeric (Photo: Freepik)
In the labyrinthine streets of Old Delhi, Khari Baoli stands as Asia’s largest wholesale spice market, a chaotic powerhouse that has been operating since the 17th century. Its history dates back to the Mughal era, specifically around 1650, when the walled city of Shahjahanabad was established. Merchants navigate narrow, perpetually crowded lanes lined with towering, open sacks of every imaginable aromatic: bright red Kashmiri chillies, deep yellow turmeric, countless varieties of cumin and green cardamom from the southern states.
The intense, pervasive scent of dried peppers and other ground spices makes this street a sensory experience that often provokes a sudden, collective sneeze. The immense scale means that nearly every spice sourced from across the subcontinent and beyond is available, often sold in bulk quantities to distributors and restaurant suppliers across northern India. For the global traveller, it offers an authentic, unvarnished view of the commerce that continues to solidify India's status as the world’s leading producer and exporter of spices, making this spice market a living, breathing cornerstone of the global trade.
Istanbul, Turkey: The Egyptian Bazaar
Istanbul's Spice Bazaar is where the Silk Road meets the Mediterranean, offering Turkish delight alongside Iranian saffron (Photo: Wirestock)
Often referred to as the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı), Istanbul's second-largest covered complex is a sensory experience. Dating back to the 17th century, it was originally built with the revenues collected from taxes on goods imported from Egypt—hence the name. The air within this L-shaped covered market is thick with the competing aromas of saffron from Iran, sumac and endless varieties of Turkish delight.
Beyond the vibrant displays of dried peppers and ground spices, the bazaar maintains its historical integrity, acting as a crucial wholesale and retail hub. It is less sprawling than the nearby Grand Bazaar, offering a more concentrated, if frenetic, experience dedicated primarily to food and traditional remedies.
Oaxaca, Mexico: Mercado Benito Juárez
Oaxaca’s Mercado Benito Juárez is the essential hub for the spices that redefined global cuisine—namely, thousands of chillies, cacao and vanilla (Photo: PVP Productions/Freepik)
While its lineage is post-Columbian, Oaxaca’s Mercado Benito Juárez is a fundamental destination for understanding the indigenous flavour of the Americas. Opened in 1894, this large municipal market is the definitive source for the ingredients that underpin Mexican cuisine, particularly its globally transformative native spices. The sheer variety of dried and fresh chillies—from the smoky chilhuacle negro to the fruity pasilla de Oaxaca—is staggering, defining the region’s complex mole sauces. It is also the central hub for local aromatics like epazote and hoja santa, alongside raw cacao (chocolate), which originated in the Americas. This market is a vibrant testimony to the spice markets of the New World, acting as the critical retail nexus for ingredients that irrevocably changed global gastronomy upon their introduction to the European and Asian trade routes.
Marrakech, Morocco: Rahba Kedima
Beyond the tourist trail lies the world’s most sought-after ingredients, still bought and sold at spice markets, continuing a centuries-old tradition (Photo: Freepik)
Marrakech’s famed souks are a web of commerce, but the Rahba Kedima, or Old Square, is the heart of the city’s spice trade. This bustling plaza and its surrounding alleyways are a repository of Moroccan and sub-Saharan African aromatics. While textiles and leather goods dominate other parts of the Medina, Rahba Kedima’s stalls are piled high with brilliant colour: deep red paprika, yellow turmeric and, notably, vast displays of the complex, signature blend known as ras el hanout. Vendors here are known for their knowledge of traditional herbalism, offering everything from genuine saffron to henna and argan oil. This open-air market retains a palpable energy, connecting modern commerce with the ancient trans-Saharan routes. It remains one of the most distinctive spice markets in North Africa, drawing cooks and travellers alike.
Dubai, UAE: The Spice Souk
The Dubai Spice Souk is an essential stop to experience the aromas and traditional commerce that first put the emirate on the global map (Photo: Freepik)
Located in the Deira district, the Dubai Spice Souk offers a contrasting experience to the city’s contemporary architecture. This traditional Arabian market, set along the narrow lanes near the Dubai Creek, provides a glimpse into the emirate’s history as a key trading port. The souk’s position on the trade route made it a meeting point for spices arriving from India, Iran and East Africa. The offerings are diverse, including frankincense, myrrh, Persian saffron and an array of dried fruits and nuts. While smaller than its historical counterparts in Istanbul or Delhi, the Dubai Spice Souk is a pristine, well-preserved environment that maintains the historic atmosphere of a true Arabian marketplace.
NOW READ
Where does oud come from? A brief history of the well-loved woody scent
Inside the Japanese pantry: 9 seasonings that define the art of subtle flavour
10 essential Thai ingredients for creating Thai dishes at home