Youssef Shahin Grand Bazar — Local services in Fatih

Overpriced and Pushy Sales Tactics, Though the Tea Is Good Quality

I visited this shop on 19 June 2025 and while I will say the tea is of good quality, I left feeling overwhelmed and taken advantage of by the sales tactics.

The vendor spoke quickly, didn’t clearly answer when I asked for 100g prices, and instead quoted cost per kilogram, which is confusing and not practical for tourists. And quite frankly any tea salesperson who’s been doing this as long as Youssef claims he has would know exactly how much each gram of tea would cost.

When I asked for specific amounts, he ignored or changed the quantities, and only revealed the final cost at the till after the teas were packed and already in my hands. It felt like a hard-sell experience designed to disorient you into agreeing.

I asked for two teas (Blue Tea and Vitamin C Tea) and somehow ended up with a third — a “Love Tea” I may or may not have verbally agreed to, but I certainly didn’t intend to spend this much overall.

To give you an idea of pricing:

200g Blue Tea: I was charged 1,600 TL (that’s 800 TL/100g — local price is closer to 150–300 TL/100g).

125g “Love Tea”: Charged 1,050 TL (~840 TL/100g — again, very steep).

210g Vitamin C Tea: Charged 1,000 TL (~476 TL/100g — still above average).

Small bottle of menthol crystals: 750 TL — local price is usually under 300 TL.

These are 3–5x the normal Turkish retail prices, even for premium blends. I don’t mind paying for good tea, but this wasn’t transparent and it felt like a tourist trap wrapped in a friendly smile.

My advice: be firm, ask for exact prices upfront, and don’t feel pressured. If you do buy, be ready to pay far more than you would elsewhere in Turkey. I certainly won’t...

During my visit to the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, I had the pleasure of discovering Youssef Shahin shop, and it was a delightful experience. This shop offers some of the best Turkish sweets, delicacies, spices, herbs, and both original and flavored Turkish teas. The variety and quality of the products are outstanding, making it a must-visit for anyone looking to bring home authentic Turkish flavors.

What truly sets this shop apart are the competitive prices and the exceptional service. The sales guy was a gem—welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about the products. His warm demeanor made the shopping experience even more enjoyable.

If you’re at the Grand Bazaar, make sure to stop by Youssef Shahin shop for a taste of authentic Turkey. You won’t be...

My daughter and I, were at the Grand Bazar, and we came across this amazing little shop! :) We enjoyed learning about all the many different types of teas and delicious flavors of sweets and coffee; that I couldn’t help myself to several of the different flavors of teas purchased, and by the end of the sale process's, I needed them shipped back home by the owners. The shipping took a week in a half to ship to my home, and everything came intact! I am happy to mention not only was the their hospitality generous and sincere but also professional and friendly!

I’ll continue to support and do business with them in the near future… We thank you Youssef...