My Places in Athens: Shop with Spices Bahar

Spice Shop Bahar [Μπαχάρ]

Cycle: My Places in Athens

There is a video of the 2003 year directed by Tassosa Bulmetisa "policy Kouzina". Whenever I watch it, and watched many times because it's worth – I feel the scent from the screen… It's an intense fragrance of spices.
There is a shop in old Athens on the street Ewrypidou: When you enter it you can feel like on the set of the movie "Policy Kouzina".

Store Logo [zdjęcie ze strony „Bahar”]

Spices…
What would be our culinary world without spices? Can we imagine it at all?

Those most popular as salt and pepper have long been inadequate for us: we need something more, we need what we find in the wide selection and all species in the shop "Bahar" in Athens.

The "Bahar" store usually creates a queue.


Always queue [fot. Betaki]

Once upon a view of the photo of such a queue a friend from Sweden asked me with astonishment in his voice: "Tell me if they have only this one shop with spices in these Athens?"
No, absolutely not! Spice shops in Athens are many, nay, even on the same street Ewrypidou there are a few, including even exactly opposite the store "Bahar"… Spices can also be bought on the layman (local bazaars) and in the markets after all, but…


Tasty Spice photos from the shop "Bahar"

But "Bahar" is a special shop, for me a magic shop, whose allure (but the usefulness) I discovered maybe 10 years ago, when I first came there with friends Greeks from Athens. Often the case makes us discover something that is already in our time. Yes, as for me "Bahar".
Whenever I am in Athens I go to "my" store. I occupy the queue still standing before the shop and go inside, and in the shop…
I, just get i!
It smells like the screen when I watch the movie "policy Kouzina", smells like in the attic shown in this video!
Lean a bit to sniff and it's dried lavender, and it's some other herbs…


[fot. Betaki]

I look at all these cans and jars experiencing vertigo: achhh If I could, otwierałabym each of them and Wąchała until they sneeze!
I do not open: it is understandable…
The spices I buy usually stand where I go and I can't: Behind the sellers. Each jar has a lid to wietrzało nothing, everyone is signed.


[fot. Betaki]

Ti allo *? "That's a question that's the most common in this shop.
Because there is no one coming after only ten dekagramów red pepper-there is a larger shopping because it is already and has stopped its in line.


[fot. Betaki]

In line I stand always: at any time of the day and at any time of year, in winter too. However, I have friends who do not steel in the queue, what a very surprised: OT, such a case. But I can not worry in the queue: on holiday I usually have time, and here I can use it wonderfully.
This queue of willing storm, however, a little atmosphere of this shop: sellers are usually quite a few and work very smoothly, but all the residents of Athens still hurry…
Ti allo? Ti allo? -It rains still… There is no special time for longer figuring out. If I am alone here-with my poor Greek I usually create an extra embolism and know about it, but it's hard: I have the right and I to shop, though before I understand more complicated issues than hourmadion Riga * * or hourmadion Basiliko * * * – it's time. But the sellers are not irritated and show a high dose of patience when plączę beef with pork… Waiting in the queue, too, if they look softer at me: pretend here a larger tourist than I am and I smile apologetically.

Well-equipped and satisfied [fot. Betaki]

I know that people of Athens as part of everyday life do not see this magic in the shop "Bahar", which I see I, I know it's nothing extraordinary for them to come here after the seasoning, but I to make and among the shoppers of this magic a bit was: a rush of storm her definitely, and Too bad, because the place for perfect magic.

The choice here is perfect: I do not know if it happens that someone came out of the dissatisfied. In addition to condiments, including mixtures of spices (such as meat and others, tzatzyków, salads and other dishes), all groats and mountain teas can be purchased here… Spices can be bought in grain or ground – depends on who will. In addition, on the willing are waiting dried vegetables in bags of white-pink grille and cinnamon in short and completely long sticks… Dried mushrooms will also be there, and muesli and dried plums or figs can be seen on one of the shelves… I can't mention everything that is there, and besides… I don't know all the products. Everything is signed here, but I do not understand everything, and not everything in my kitchen I use.


[fot. Betaki]

The sellers will pack what I need for a small plastic bag, then zgrzeją it in the machine: the precious fragrance can not get out of the bag. Write yet mazakiem on the handbag, which is also there: I do not mistake by accident. I usually make purchases in larger quantities, for myself and for loved ones as a gift: we all use spices today, and that's a perfect gift.

I once asked friends Athenians here is why so the shop "Bahar" always set the queue. "For excellent quality and price is not excessive" – I heard. The quality of the spices purchased in the shop "Bahar" known to me the residents of Athens praise and today I really just buy spices there before buying them even on the layman.

On the website run on Facebook "Bahar" post interesting recipes, but only in Greek. It also seems (Greek only) a richly illustrated calendar: There are recipes to start each week. This calendar (if it's been released in a given year and if it's a little bit of luck!) can be obtained in the shop at the turn of the year.

If nothing has changed, the shop is open 6 days a week from 7.00-15.00. Only on Fridays to 18th.

For the purpose of this text of delicious photos from the shop "Bahar" I obtained the consent, thank you.

_{* – of GR: what else?}
_{* * – with GR: Hundred oregano (100 grams of oregano)}
_{– from Gr: Hundreds of basil (100 grams of basil)}