Yemen

Decorative stoneware. Qamariah lanterns (inspired by the qamariah stained-glass window designs displayed in most Yemeni homes), made from gypsum and a small colored glass plate, make for festive decorations when a tea light is lit inside. Oil lamps and incense burners are also made from gypsum or alabaster, a lightly tinted form of gypsum.

Honey. The Prophet Mohammed once said, "Seek cure from honey and Qur'an." Thus, beekeeping and honey making are ancient Yemeni traditions. The two main types of honey (flower honey and stone honey) are found in different regions of the country. Honey is harvested year-round, but the type of honey available will depend on the season. The Tariq Honey Shop (just south of the Sheba Art Gallery in Sana'a) has a good (but pricy) selection.

Textiles. Yemeni women weave colorful mawa'az (wrap skirts), purses, cushions, and tablecloths, which are often embroidered with silver thread. In Old Sana'a, visit Hope in their Hands or the National Women's Center for Development Handicrafts on the second floor of the National Handicrafts Training Center (Samsarat al-Halaqah; +967 281 415), a former resting house for merchants on the incense trading routes. Both nonprofits train impoverished women how to make traditional handicrafts, and items are sold in shops on the main floor.

All content accurate as of press time.