Dear Foodie Fam,

There’s alabaster everywhere in Egypt- not only was it used all over Egypt during the Pharaonic period, but it’s still in shops and houses, too. This is definitely unique to Egypt. It’s found in the Valley of the Kings (Luxor) and the Malawi area.

If you’re looking for handmade alabaster in Egypt make sure it’s :

• Light weight

• fine grained, soft to touch

• Waxy feeling

• Matte creamy white (machine made is more butterscotch)

• translucent when held to light

• Can have dark streaks

• Soft- the Egyptian alabaster cannot be scratched by nails but European ones can

• http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/alabaster.htm

Sources