Felt, the star of souvenir stores
Felt has been used for thousands of years by Central Asian nomads to make carpets, clothing and yurt structures, and is naturally the first choice of raw material for tourist souvenirs: slippers, hats, mini-yurts, little characters... But it is also used for more artistic creations, such as shyrdaks: these elegant felt carpets are adorned with geometric patterns and coloured with natural dyes extracted from onions, saffron, pomegranates, cobalt or turquoise... Simple carpets improving the comfort of the yurt and feeding a symbolism often stemming from shamanism or Zoroastrianism, they are both an everyday object and a piece of art, often unique, if it has been made by hand. They are mainly found in the southern part of the country, where the Kazakh population is clearly in the majority.
Embroidered panels, or suzanis
This is one of the oldest forms of nomadic art. Women often spent years weaving these embroidered panels, adorned with highly symbolic plant or animal motifs, to prove their skill to their future husbands. The smallest panels were made by a single hand. But for the larger ones, each woman worked on a strip 20 to 40 cm long, which was then assembled with the others. An indispensable part of the bride's dowry, they always had a protective role, for example when laid on the bed of the newlyweds. They could also be used as wall decorations. The symbols depicted on suzanis varied from region to region, but in general always included elements linked to marriage, such as the tree of life, symbolizing fertility, or the rooster, symbolizing awakening and the day, as opposed to darkness. Numerous protective animals also make recurring appearances to ward off the evil eye and ward off evil spirits.
And also..
In keeping with nomadic traditions, you'll of course be able to find jewelry, since this is how wealth (metals and precious stones) was conveyed by women. But you'll need to be careful about quality and prices, which are often very exaggerated. Tableware is also widespread. Adorned with pretty colors and symbols, it can be made of wood or ceramic, depending on the region and the local resources available. But it's always beautifully decorated.
On the bazaars
Bazaars remain one of the best places to bring back souvenirs from your trip, especially if you wander the aisles of the mythical Green Bazaar in Almaty, one of the largest in Central Asia. Saffron and pistachios from Iran, pepper from Turkey, cumin from Uzbekistan, almonds from the Ferghana Valley, turmeric from India... The spice stalls are a treasure trove for the eyes as well as the taste buds. But don't stop there: you'll also find plenty of teas, herbal teas and other infusions made from mountain plants and flowers. In the cheese department, you can slip a few bags of kuruts into your bag, the dried, salted cheese balls so popular in Central Asia. Smoked or preserved fish and meats are also plentiful and practical to take home. Kazakh-style or Russian-style, take your pick!
Kazakhstan, the chocolate Switzerland of Central Asia
When you leave Kazakhstan, you'll find that the airport stores are full of chocolate. Since 1942, the Rakhat brand has been producing highly reputed chocolate at its Almaty and Shymkent sites. After a long slump at the end of the last century, production has resumed, with a focus on quality and local development in Kazakhstan and neighbouring countries, through dozens of different products: wafers, confectionery, drinks... The packaging of the chocolate bars, with the Kazakh flag, could make a nice and original souvenir.
What about caviar?
As the sturgeon is still classified as a protected species, its fishing remains prohibited, and the only caviar you can consume anywhere in the world must come from the various farms located in China, France, Scandinavia or even Hungary, for the most expensive! And we strongly advise against trying to buy caviar from the Caspian: at best, you'll be tricked into paying a fortune for fake caviar; at worst, you risk being arrested at customs for smuggling. An experience to be avoided!
Kazakhstan in sound and light
Kazakh cinematographic production is not exactly the most widespread in the West, but it is. Numerous films have been produced and some have even won awards at prestigious festivals. Although they are generally unavailable in France, you can find them in the stores of Astana or Almaty shopping malls. These films, which are part of the post-independence revival of Kazakh cinema, often seek to highlight the country's identity, long erased by Soviet propaganda productions. In recent years, a number of Kazakh directors have emerged from the pack and made their mark in the film world, such as Darezhan Omirbaev(Kairat in 1992, Kardiogramma in 1995, Tueur à gages in 1998, L'Étudiant in 2012), Sergeï Dvoltsevoy(Ayka in 2018), Gulshat Omarova(Shizo in 2004) or Adilkhan Yerzhanov(La tendre indifférence du monde in 2018, selected at Cannes in the "Un certain regard" category, then Assault in 2022).
As for music, consider traditional instruments such as the Dombra: a two-string guitar carved from a single block of mulberry wood, which accompanies storytellers by the fireside.
And what about the kids?
For young children, you can also turn to felt, which is widely available in small characters and local animals (camels, horses, wolves...) and various objects, including dolls, gloves, hats, kits, mini yurts, in all sizes, which can be found on bazaar stalls for any quality, or in Almaty craft stores for a little more quality.
