Barbados is known for white sand seashores, crystal clear waters, infinite blue skies, beautiful sunsets, soca music, Rihanna and naturally, it’s rum. What higher approach to bear in mind your journey (though you’re not too prone to neglect this paradise island) than with this listing of the finest souvenirs from Barbados.
Barbados is likely one of the most well-known Caribbean islands, the place a whole bunch of 1000’s go to yearly. It’s fairly clear to see the draw, because it actually does dwell as much as these idyllic seaside postcard perceptions. However Barbados isn’t simply seashores, the place plenty of individuals like to indulge within the native tradition, historical past and actions.
From water sports activities, visiting traditionally and socially vital former plantations, sampling on the world’s oldest rum distillery, there’s a lot to see and do in Barbados you’ll have a troublesome time saying goodbye. I at all times prefer to carry just a little memento from any journey as I feel it sweetens the journey again each so barely.
With so many native artisans, produce and iconic emblems, there’s really loads of concepts to select from for a memento. A number of the finest souvenirs from Barbados will little doubt be from locations you’ve visited when you’re there. However in the event you’re caught on concepts, my listing of high issues to purchase in Barbados can assist.
11 finest souvenirs from Barbados
In case you’re on the lookout for a approach to carry again a chunk of Barbados, then these memento concepts can assist. From cooking spices to crafts to a bottle of rum, there are heaps so that you can select from.
1. Bajan rum
Barbadian rum, or Bajan rum for brief, is known internationally. You’ll in all probability have heard of, or perhaps even tried, Mount Homosexual Rum which is a form of Bajan rum produced proper right here in Barbados. It dates again to the seventeenth century, the place the primary Mount Homosexual rum was made and offered.
With sugarcane rising all over the place in Barbados, it’s little doubt rum is likely one of the finest souvenirs to purchase from the island. In case you go to the north aspect of the island, you may go to the Mount Homosexual distillery in St Lucy, which is the oldest rum distillery on this planet. Right here you may see the ageing and mixing strategies after which seize a bottle to take again dwelling with you.
From white rums and gold rums to darkish rums and spiced rums there’s heaps to strive (and purchase) from Barbados that can assist you slip again into vacation mode at dwelling.
2. Bajan scorching sauce
Identified for its intense warmth and fiery flavour, Bajan scorching sauce is a culinary memento to proceed your vacation from inside your personal kitchen. Its distinctive mix of Scotch bonnet peppers, mustard, garlic and vinegar imply it’s a novel style.
Bajan scorching sauce is broadly accessible all around the island and is available in a wide range of totally different bottles, sufficiently small to not take over your packed suitcase in your approach again however large enough to maintain your style buds happy till your subsequent vacation.
The bottles additionally are available plenty of totally different designs, which make for good ornamental items when you’ve completed too. And you should utilize it with just about every part – you’ll little doubt have tried it in lots of the dishes at eating places round.
Talking of locations to eat, be sure you take a look at these 11 eating places in Barbados when you’re there!
3. Mahogany souvenirs
Mahogany bushes are a pure function of Barbados so it’s no shock that this glorious native useful resource is steadily used to make lovely items of furnishings, utensils, collectible figurines and keepsakes. The bushes have come to be one of many symbols of Barbados, which make them nice souvenirs from the island.
The well-known deep reddish-brown silky clean wooden is reworked into large-scale items (maybe too large for that one suitcase) to homeware and trinkets that are completely packable! Fortunately now sustainably sourced and infrequently reforested, shopping for mahogany from Barbados is a superb present that celebrates native artisan and craftsmanship with out depleting the pure useful resource.
While it’s accessible all around the island, take a look at Bridgetown’s craft festivals to purchase immediately from the artisans themselves!
4. Native arts and crafts
Each the Pelican Craft Centre in Bridgetown and the Chattel Village in Holetown are nice locations to purchase some native artwork and crafts as souvenirs.
The island’s wealthy cultural heritage offers an unlimited vary of merchandise, that are impressed by African, British and West Indian influences. They’re actually vibrant and vibrant, which displays the Bajan’s multi-cultural lifestyle.
Pottery, jewelry, sculpture and textiles are simply among the delights accessible so that you can purchase to take dwelling with you as a memento from Barbados.
5. Bay leaves
If scorching sauce and spices are just a little an excessive amount of for you then how about some Bay leaves? They’re repeatedly used all through Bajan cooking, and will be purchased dried, which makes it actually simpler to pack in your suitcase.
They can be utilized in stews and soups and even teas, which might fill your private home with the aroma of conventional Caribbean cooking.
6. Bajan rum cake
If in case you have a candy tooth then you definitely’ll in all probability love Bajan rum cake. It’s usually used to rejoice weddings, birthdays and particular occasions, however you can even rejoice your vacation there by indulging in some it.
Only a phrase of warning – it’s very moreish.
Bajan rum cake is often created from fruits like prunes, raisins, cherries in addition to rum, clearly, or brandy. One other phrase of warning – it’s attainable to get just a little tipsy of rum cake, relying on how a lot has been put in it, and the way a lot you eat.
Not solely will cake allure your style buds however the desserts are sometimes offered in artistic and ornate tins which in itself are an enduring memento from Barbados.
7. Soca music from Barbados
Soca music is the celebratory, life-affirming, scorching music which originated within the Caribbean and you should have heard all around the island. Infectious melodies and beats run all through the music and little doubt via your vacation!
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You’ll have the ability to purchase soca music simply to take again dwelling from native markets or avenue distributors. There’s CDs, vinyls and totally different codecs to allow you to take heed to the sounds of Barbados again dwelling. It’s additionally top-of-the-line souvenirs from Barbados because it helps native artists too.
Don’t simply let the music be a reminiscence although, buy a CD or vinyl document of your favorite sounds to have with you at dwelling and share together with your family and friends while additionally supporting the native artists!
8. Bajan seasoning
Quite a lot of one of the best souvenirs from Barbados are nice for meals lovers. However maybe one of the easy methods to take it again is thru seasoning. That approach you can also make any dish at dwelling resemble Bajan cooking, and it usually lasts longer than shopping for one thing freshly made.
The smells of Bajan seasoning are very intoxicating. They simply scream ‘good meals is being made right here’, because of the mix of thyme, marjoram, chives, onion, garlic, and parsley. In case you’re looking for a approach to showcase how good your journey to Barbados was to pals again dwelling, throw them a feast soaked in Bajan seasoning.
9. Work of Barbados
It ought to come as no shock that with such beautiful surroundings equivalent to the right seashores, superb sunsets and tranquil waters, that Barbados has a thriving native artist group. There are various artwork galleries on the island which proudly show and promote works by native artists on canvas.
I do know all of us have telephones in our pockets today to have the ability to take a photograph however how a few hand-painted canvas produced by somebody born and raised on the island to take dwelling with you as a substitute? You’ll have the ability to bear in mind the attractive views via the eyes of a painter with Barbados of their veins!
You could need to go to one of many galleries for your self, two of essentially the most outstanding being the Gallery of Caribbean artwork and the Zemicon Gallery and seize your self an genuine piece of the island’s character.
10. Conch shells
The point out of conch at all times brings me again to highschool studying about ‘Lord of the Flies’. Thankfully, Barbados is way from an island the place a gaggle of younger boys battle over energy. However there are nonetheless plenty of conches.
The massive spirally coral-coloured shell is a factor of magnificence and would make a high memento from Barbados. Attributable to their differing sizes, they’ll make an exquisite little pocket-sized memento or a statement-making ornamental decoration on your dwelling.
Most of the native markets will promote them for affordable costs relying upon measurement and situation (and your personal bartering expertise). While you may maybe choose up a conch shell from a neighborhood seaside your self please be conscious that some areas are protected and subsequently you will not be allowed to take them. We would like you to have an excellent memento from Barbados however not a customs nightmare (anybody bear in mind Bridget Jones 2?). So, bought conch shells are undoubtedly a safer guess!
11. Chocolate
While different Caribbean islands are extra well-known for producing their very own chocolate, do you know that Barbados has an rising chocolate manufacturing scene? Up within the north and east components of the island are the place the Cacao bushes develop and the beans are infused with the island’s local weather.
You can even go to the Agapey Chocolate Manufacturing unit & Store in Bridgetown. Right here they’ve vintage classic equipment in addition to tastings in fact. It’s a very nice concept in the event you love chocolate and need to see the way it’s made and has been made on the island for years.
Sweets are at all times good present concepts, which is why they make for among the finest memento concepts from Barbados. However be sure you purchase some for your self too.
What souvenirs do you have to purchase from Barbados?
It might be inconceivable to not have had a tremendous time holidaying within the paradise of Barbados. The Bajan good seashores, the startlingly blue seas, the tropical local weather and great tradition…how terrible!
However it may be troublesome to consider issues to carry again, particularly when a variety of the issues that make Barbados so well-known aren’t actually issues you may take dwelling with you. However this listing of souvenirs from Barbados covers plenty of gadgets than you may placed on a aircraft.
There’s a spread of meals and culinary gadgets, rum-based souvenirs, and humanities and crafts. You’ll be able to at all times head to memento retailers and purchase one thing extra touristy in fact, equivalent to flags, keyrings, postcards and many others. Nevertheless it’s good to seek out one thing that actually embodies the tradition of Barbados, or helps native craftsmen.
Shopping for a memento from Barbados doesn’t need to be costly both, with plenty of low-cost choices on supply. In truth, my article on how to save cash in Barbados is helpful for preserving the entire prices of the journey down too.
Quicklist of one of the best souvenirs from Barbados
- Rum
- Bajan scorching sauce
- Mahogany souvenirs
- Native arts and crafts
- Bay leaves
- Bajan rum cake
- Soca music from Barbados
- Bajan seasoning
- Work of Barbados
- Conch shells
- Chocolate
What merchandise is Barbados recognized for?
Maybe essentially the most emblematic product of Barbados is rum, claiming to be its birthplace. The island boasts a number of distilleries producing among the world’s most interesting rums, such because the acclaimed Mount Homosexual (which can also be the oldest).
Moreover, Barbados has a vibrant craft scene, which sees artisans creating distinctive gadgets from supplies like clay, straw, leather-based, and shells. On the culinary entrance, the recent sauces, Bajan seasoning and rum cake are iconic to the island and wider Caribbean neighborhood.
What items can you purchase in Barbados?
Barbados has so many present choices to select from. You possibly can go iconic with a bottle of Barbadian rum or a rum-infused cake. Or for these appreciative of artwork, there’s native artwork items, starting from serene panorama work to mahogany-based souvenirs.
Is Barbados good for procuring?
From high-end luxurious boutiques in areas like Holetown and Bridgetown, to native crafts markets like Pelican Village, there’s plenty of choices for procuring in Barbados. There’s additionally Broad Road in Bridgetown, which is the first procuring avenue, housing varied retailers, duty-free shops, and malls. The island is especially nice for these fascinated about shopping for native artwork, crafts, jewelry, and naturally, rum. Moreover, Barbados has a VAT (Worth Added Tax) refund for vacationers on eligible purchases, making procuring even higher.