Food & Drink
Rice is Iran's principal
food and the Iranians cook it
wonderfully. Dishes include polo chele
(pilau rice), chelo khoresh (rice topped with vegetables and meat
in a nut sauce), polo sabzi (pilau rice cooked with fresh herbs),
chelo kababs (rice with skewered meats cooked over charcoal), polo
chirin (sweet sour saffron coloured rice with raisins, almonds and
orange), adas polo (rice, lentils and meat), morgh polo (chicken
and pilau rice), kofte (minced meat formed into meatballs), kofte
gusht (meatloaf), abgusht (thick stew), khoreshe badinjan (mutton
and aubergine stew), mast-o-khier (cold yoghurt based soup flavoured
with mint, chopped cucumber and raisins) and dolmeh (stuffed aubergine,
courgettes or peppers). Most Iranian meals are eaten with a spoon
and fork; however, visitors may choose a Western
dish and eat with a knife and fork.
Fruit
and vegetable juices are favorites, as are fizzy
mineral waters. Tea is also a favorite and available in many tea houses
(ghahve khane). The consumption of alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Shopping
Local products are available in numerous bazaars while shops provide an impressive range of quality goods including
hand carved, inlaid woodwork, rugs, silks, carpets, leather goods,
mats, tablecloths, gold, silver, glass and ceramics. Bargaining
is traditional. There is limitation to which items may be taken
out of Iran, please see our Duty Free section for more information.
General shopping hours are 9.00 am to 1.00
pm and 3.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
Social Conventions
Feelings about certain countries (such as the United States of America
and the United Kingdom) run high, so visitors should avoid controversial subjects. The Westernisation
of the Iranian way of life has been arrested since the fall of the
Shah, and Koranic law exercises a much more traditional influence
over much of the population. In general, Western influences are
now unenthusiastic.
Handshaking is traditional,
but not with members of the opposite sex. It must be remembered
that intimate relations between non Muslim men and Muslim women
is unlawful, and may acquire imprisonment.
Visitors should address hosts by their title or
surname. Iranians are very welcoming and like to
entertain. It is also traditional to be offered tea, and guests
are expected to accept such offers of hospitality. Due to Islamic
customs, dress should be traditional
and discreet,
particularly women’s.
Dressing has been principally enforced, women should
cover their heads while in the public area, wear loose fitted clothes,
and make sure that their arms and legs are also hidden carefully. Business people are expected to wear a suit and more formal
clothing is also necessary in high-class dining rooms and for important
social meetings.
Restrictions
During Ramadan, eating, smoking and drinking in public are
restricted between sunrise and sunset; however, facilities are always available
in major hotels.
Tipping
A 10 - 15 % service charge is added to the bill in large hotels.
It is customary to leave some small
change in restaurants (chelokababis). Iin small hotels or tea houses, tipping is not expected. |
