10 must-have souvenirs to bring back from Martinique

Your vacation is coming to an end or you are planning to fly to Martinique soon?  Your sister, your friends and your colleagues have already placed an order with you, you absolutely have to bring them a souvenir from the island of flowers? Today we offer you a top 10 of the must-have souvenirs to bring back from Martinique.

The essential Rum of Martinique for your home cocktails

Number 1 item to bring back from your stay in Martinique, rum. Famous for its rum and exotic cocktails, the island of flowers is not left out with its production. You can't leave Martinique without bringing back one or two bottles in your suitcase! Brown, white, woody, spicy, vanilla, more or less sweet, whatever your preferences, you will be spoilt for choice. Agricultural rum is obtained from fermented cane juice and represents about 80% of the national production. Non-agricultural rum is produced from the residue of sugar molasses. It's up to you to make your choice, but at Tourcrib we still have a preference for the old rum Clément.

The wood lélé of Martinique to serve your ti punch

Who says ti punch on your return from Martinique, says wood lélé. To serve your rum, it is this charming small wooden utensil from 15 to 25 cm long that you must get! Composed of a long stem and five star-shaped branches at the end, the bois lélé is sold in traditional markets. You will use this typically Martinican object to stir your cocktail in the rules of the art and by this way will honor the West Indian culture.

Spices to reproduce the memorable recipes of Martinique

It won't be easy to take home the good food cooked with Auntie Maryse, but we have a tip! A good bag of local spices in your suitcase and you are ready to reproduce the best recipes of the French West Indies at home. We are thinking of the unavoidable chili pepper that decorates a large part of the West Indian cuisine.

The same goes for the 4-spice mix (nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger, cloves) which is also an essential in your cupboard. You can find them everywhere, you might ask? Sure, but if you want to reproduce the Caribbean recipes you learned on the spot, it's best to buy your local spices. So go to the covered market in Fort-de-France!

Coffee in memory of the island of flowers

After rum and local spices...tadam...COFFEE. If you bring back coffee, you are literally bringing back a piece of Flower Island with you. The island is best known for its sugar cane and banana plantations, but it is also a very fertile land for coffee growing. Are you a coffee lover and want to taste rich and aromatic coffees?

Nothing better than to take the coffee road and visit the best coffee growers in the world. Stop at Ti'kafé, the Trois-Îlets coffee factory or the Tartane coffee factory and taste quality coffees. In addition to tasting old-fashioned roasted coffees that retain all their flavors, you will learn more about the cultivation of the bean.

Perfume your memories with a perfume made in Martinique

After rum, spices and coffee, we suggest you stop by Parfums des îles. Treat yourself to a rich olfactory experience and leave with your own perfume! A diy perfume just for you that will contain your memories of the beautiful beaches and small secret coves of Martinique!

Véronicka Cormouls-Houles, head of Parfums des îles, will be delighted to show you the perfume bar. It will also be the occasion to assemble yourself the scents of your future fragrance. For you, for your friend or your darling, at Parfums des îles, you will be spoilt for choice. There is something for every taste and every memory!

After the perfumes, the soaps to crunch of the island with flowers

Who has never been sensitive to the sweet and tropical scents of the Caribbean? Admit that taking a shower with these sweet smells of coconut, guava or papaya, in the middle of winter is rather pleasant. It reminds us of vacations and it smells good too! These beautiful sandy beaches and these delicious fruity cocktails tasted on the beach of Salines...

We don't know about you, but we would like to bring them back home! Rekindle these beautiful memories by buying some natural soaps from the Village de la Poterie. Nestled in the heart of Trois-Ilets, the Savonnerie Antillaise, among others, is an artisanal store that offers natural and 100% vegetable soaps. The prices are reasonable and it's easy to carry in your suitcase!

Dress your head with memories thanks to Martinique bakwa hats

As a souvenir or during your stay to protect you from the sun or the rain, let yourself be charmed by a bakwa hat. The bakwa hats are these pretty hats made of bakwa (pandanus fiber), a plant found everywhere on the island.

They are essential pieces of Martinique's culture and you will usually find them on local markets or in artisanal stores. They recall the history and heritage of the island and are used in many occasions (fishing, agriculture, festivities...). In Sandra's store at Paradis du Bakwa, you will find them in different forms. There is really something for everyone, so go for it!

Adorn yourself with madras fabrics as a souvenir of Martinique

Stroll down Antoine Siger and Moreau de Jones streets in Fort-de-France and go in search of the island's beautiful madras fabrics. Emblematic of the West Indies, you will find madras fabrics, known for its check pattern, in different colors. You can wear it as a headdress, dress or shirt, if your sewing skills are up to it! Pay attention to the quality of the weaving when you buy it and to the aspect of the cotton.

At Tourcrib, we advise you to choose a soft cotton if you choose to make a dress or a shirt. Visit Doum and Forum Caraïbe on Antoine Siger and Au bonheur des dames, Mercerie Crysalides and Mercerie Foyale on rue Moreau de Jones.

Martinique floral atmosphere in your living room

You fell in love with tropical flowers during your stay? Who said you couldn't take a bouquet home? Not us! At the Fort-de-France market, saleswomen make bouquets of flowers picked directly from their garden. 23 euros for 30 stems, you'll have enough for 3 weeks!

Moreover, you can have your bouquet delivered directly to the airport on the day of your departure. Your bouquet will be carefully packed and will arrive fresh in France. What more could you ask for? Perfume and tropical atmosphere guaranteed in your living room, believe us!

Memories of Martinique

There are customs that we have when we travel... Bringing back a magnet from each place you visit to hang it on your fridge is one of them. Souvenirs Tropico, in Lamentin, offers much more than magnets. You will find a wide selection of traditional souvenirs. From trinkets, to games and toys for the little ones, to stationery, textiles and ready-to-wear, you won't know where to turn!

And you, what will you bring back as a souvenir from Martinique?

With this top 10 must-have souvenirs to bring back from Martinique, you won't just bring back souvenirs in your suitcases, but little bits of the island! After all, traveling is not just about physical travel. Traveling is also about remembering, letting yourself be transported by your memories and your imagination!  A trip that will continue at home in France, I promise!