Top food items to purchase include Numi Basra (whole sun-dried black limes from southern Iraq, sold whole or ground for stews), sumac (deep purple, acidic ground berries for kebabs and salads), and Sab'a Baharat (an Iraqi seven-spice blend of cumin, coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, black pepper, cloves, and cardamom). Other portable staples include jars of pure date syrup (dibs), premium date varieties like Barhi, Khastawi, or Zahdi, and fragrant green cardamom seeds commonly used in tea. For more: Shopping and Bargaining in Iraqi Souqs: A Guide to Crafts, Spices, and Cash Etiquette