Souvenirs From Afar: What do you buy for your family and friends?

One way to really experience the thrill of travelling is to bring home gifts for everyone to share. Often the memories of your trip are caught up in the tastes and smells of the place, which is why it’s a great idea to buy things to eat and drink (just make sure you check customs restrictions first!). Because they tend to be local specialities, they’re easy to find in markets and shops, and they tend to be efficiently packaged as well.

So here’s a list of items to bring home from your travels, starting with our favourite destination this month: Cyprus.

Cypriot Handiwork and Jewellery

Cyprus specialises in different forms of craftwork from lace-making to handwoven baskets, ceramics and hand-blown glassware. The best places to find traditional goods are in the smaller villages like Lefkara, which is well-known for producing silver jewellery, but larger cities like Nicosia and Limassol have plenty of souvenirs for visitors to take home with them.

Copper Teapots in Turkey

Travelling up to Turkey, one of the first things that comes to mind is Turkish delight; that gummy, delicious sweet called “lokum” (a word that’s also used to describe a voluptuous woman)! But Turkey is also a haven for other items, particularly if you’ve sharpened your bargaining skills and are keen to pick up brightly patterned Kilims (tribal rugs), Iznik pottery, textiles ranging from fine linens to bath robes, copper tea sets and intricate Meerschaum pipes.

Bulgarian Honey and Fiery Raki

Holidays on the Black Sea Coast are gaining in popularity, and the shopping markets at Sunny Beach resort cover the beachside promenade with local jewellery, clothes and gifts, including Bulgarian wine and raki (a liqueur made from raisins) that are perfect if you have friends who like their tipple. Keep an eye out for Bulgaria’s ‘national spice’ chubritsa, which is delicious when sprinkled on mashed potatoes. Bulgarian honey flavoured with local herbs is another nice souvenir to bring home as it has a distinct flavour that really complements Bulgarian yoghurt.

Have you brought home gifts for your friends when travelling before? What about your work colleagues or cousins? Let us know!