What to Buy in the Moroccan Souks

Rugs and kilims: Berber rugs (Beni Ourain, Boucherouite) are the headline purchase — handmade, characterful and shippable. Leather: bags, poufs, babouche slippers and jackets, especially from Fes. Metalwork: pierced lanterns, lamps and trays that throw beautiful light.

Also: ceramics and tagines (Fes blue, Safi pottery), pure argan oil (cosmetic and culinary), spices and ras el hanout, mint-tea glasses and silver-look teapots, leather-and-wood goods, and Tuareg-style jewellery.

For rugs, check it’s hand-knotted (irregular knots on the back, natural wool smell) rather than machine-made, and ask about the region and dyes. For argan oil, cosmetic oil should be cold-pressed and unscented-ish; culinary oil is toasted and nutty — be wary of cheap “argan” that’s cut with other oils.

For leather and metal, look at the stitching and finish up close. Cooperatives and workshop-direct purchases often mean better quality and fairer prices than tourist-strip stalls.

Haggle on everything in the souks (open around 30–50% of the first price), carry dirham cash, and factor shipping for large rugs — reputable sellers arrange international shipping, though confirm costs and get a receipt. Decorative tagines are for serving; buy a plain unglazed one if you actually want to cook.

Buying from artisan cooperatives supports makers directly and usually comes with fixed, fair prices if you’d rather not bargain.