Souq al-Tanabel Its story, its buyers and its prices
Episode date: Length: 1 min 18 s
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In Damascus's Shaalan district there is a market that people argue about: Souq al-Tanabel, roughly "the lazy people's market". Some love what it offers, some dislike the name. The Mukhtar asked about its story.
The short answer
Souq al-Tanabel in Damascus's Shaalan district sells vegetables peeled and prepared for cooking; the episode says the idea began in 1982. Sellers say most buyers are working women and busy mothers, not only the rich. In October 2025 prepared fava beans cost about $3 a kilo (350 new Syrian pounds) and frozen peas about $3.9.
The episode says the idea began in 1982 with a seller who offered prepared vegetables, then grew: cut green beans, cored zucchini and more, until the market became known by its name.
Who shops there?
Sellers said: don't think it depends on the rich. Most buyers are working women and busy mothers with no time to prepare vegetables.
What are the prices?
Prices in the episode: fava beans about $3 a kilo (350 new pounds), frozen peas about $3.9 (450 pounds). Some shops also sell vegetables already boiled.
Questions people ask
Where is Souq al-Tanabel in Damascus?
In the Shaalan district. It sells vegetables peeled and prepared for cooking.
Why is it called the lazy people's market?
Because it sells vegetables ready to cook. Sellers say its buyers are working women and busy mothers, not lazy people.
How much are prepared fava beans there?
About $3 a kilo (350 new Syrian pounds) in October 2025.
We ask sellers in the market and record every price with its date, in US dollars and new Syrian pounds. How we work
The Mukhtar Al Souq team: produced by Ahmad Nahas (the show on his site) · written by Ahmad Nahas, Mazen Shbib, Ranim Shabani and Dania Halbouni · edited by Abdulrahman Al-Nassar and Abdulrahman Mulla · graphics by Wael Fayyad
The truth from the market, for the people