Belize's Best Buys: Unique Gifts And Treasures

Belize is a great place to visit, with snorkelling, diving, soft sand beaches, and a vibrant culture. There are plenty of souvenirs to bring back to remind you of your trip, and most of them are locally made. Here are some of the best things to buy in Belize:

- Conch jewellery: Made from the conch shell's coral pink inner spiral, you can find necklaces, bracelets, hairpins, or just buy the shell itself as a home decor item.

- Mayan baskets: Mayan women spend several days weaving intricate designs and patterns on each basket. A great way to support local artists and bring a piece of authentic Belize culture into your home.

- Belizean chocolate: Made from local organic cocoa, which is very special to Mayan culture, Belizean chocolate comes in many flavours. You can often see the production process before buying some bars to take home.

- Belizean rum: From white cane rum to dark aged rum, and even coconut rum, there's a variety of rum styles to choose from. You can take a few bottles home duty-free or opt for a delicious rum cake if you're short on luggage space.

- Local carvings and jewellery: Carvings from slate or wood with Mayan depictions are popular, as well as jewellery made from conch shells, slate, wood, natural stone, and even coral.

- Belizean hot sauce: Marie Sharp's hot sauce is a must-try! With flavours ranging from mild to extreme heat, you can find it in grocery stores across Belize or at the international airport.

- Wooden kitchenware: Carved from ziricote wood, a rare and hardy tree species, you can find bowls, spoons, cutting boards, and other kitchen accessories with beautiful marbled patterns.

- Hand-crafted hammocks: Perfect for relaxing on a breezy day, hammocks come in a variety of colours and are a great reminder of your Belize vacation.

- Belizean beer: Belikin Beer is the most popular brewer in Belize. You can take a few bottles home or opt for beer souvenirs like branded T-shirts, glasses, koozies, or tote bags.

- Belizean T-shirts: With sayings like You Better Belize It! and UnBelizable, these are a fun way to express your love for Belize and make great gifts for any age.

Local carvings and jewellery

Conch jewellery is perhaps the most popular type of jewellery in Belize, made from the clean and preserved shells of conch snails. You can find conch jewellery in various forms, such as necklaces, bracelets, hairpins, and earrings. The pink colour of the conch shell adds a pleasant touch to these jewellery pieces. You can also buy a whole cleaned and preserved conch shell as a decorative item for your home.

Jewellery made from coral is also commonly found in Belize, especially in the coastal villages. Black coral, in particular, is very beautiful but endangered. When considering coral jewellery, it's important to be mindful of the environmental impact of using this non-renewable resource.

The coastal Creoles are known for their simple yet skilfully crafted jewellery made from coral and shells, as well as wood carvings of sea creatures and ships. The Garífuna population in the southern coastal region is known for their unique petite dolls.

The Mayan people of Belize create replicas of ancient Mayan hieroglyphics, figurines, and modern interpretations of Mayan symbolism using stone. Mayan slate carvings, limestone statues, clay pots, and wood carvings are all handmade and can be customised within a few days. These carvings make great decorative pieces and gifts, reminding you of the rich cultural history of Belize.

Belizean chocolate

Belize is known for its cacao production, and chocolate is a must-buy when visiting the country. Cacao holds a special place in Mayan culture, and Belizeans make some of the world's most delicious chocolate.

The Belize Chocolate Company is a popular choice for chocolate lovers, offering a variety of chocolate products, from bars to truffles, cookies, and even chocolate tea. They also provide chocolate-making classes, where you can learn about the process of transforming cacao beans into chocolate bars. The company uses organic Belizean cacao and has been crafting chocolate since 2007.

IXCACAO Maya Belizean Chocolate is another unique option, as it is the only Maya-owned and operated chocolate company in Belize and worldwide. They offer a cultural experience, taking you on a chocolate trail back to the early years of exploration in 1500 AD. Using traditional stone tools passed down through generations, IXCACAO maintains a cultural heritage that makes for an unforgettable chocolate experience.

Chocolate is a perfect souvenir or gift for loved ones, and with its rich history in Mayan culture, it is a delightful treat to indulge in and take home from Belize.

Mayan textiles and crafts

Textiles

Traditionally, Mayan women created textiles, and these were a significant form of ancient Mayan art and religious expression. Mayan embroidery, in particular, is intricate and complex, with some designs taking weeks or even months to complete.

Mayan embroidery is now enjoying a renaissance in fashion, with clothing featuring these handmade designs being worn with pride by senior government officials and average citizens alike. You can find these textiles on websites like Etsy and in high-end boutiques in North America and Europe. However, it's important to ensure that the artisans are fairly compensated for their work, as they don't always receive the full value of their artistic expression.

Crafts

Mayan crafts include items such as clay pots, slate wall hangings, lacquer items, masks, and woven goods. These crafts are often reasonably priced and can be purchased directly from the artisans themselves or at local markets.

One notable location to purchase Mayan crafts is the Maya Center Mayan Museum in Dangriga, Belize. Here, you'll find beautiful handmade crafts made by Mayan women, including intricately designed textiles. The proceeds from these sales support the Mayan village that was displaced when their land was turned into the Cockscomb preserve.

When shopping for Mayan textiles and crafts in Belize, remember that you're not just buying a souvenir but also supporting the preservation of Mayan culture and the economic empowerment of indigenous women.

Belizean rum

There are several varieties and flavours of rum made in Belize, including sweet, coconut, gold, spiced, and white rum. One of the most famous rum producers in Belize is Traveller's Liquors Ltd. Their unique blends are aged in the finest barrels available, sourced from U.S. brands like Jack Daniels and Jim Bean. They produce 24 different products, including liqueurs and wines made from local fruits. Their rums are popular because they are silky and flavourful, pairing well with any mix. One of their most popular rums is One Barrel, a simple gold rum with a smooth finish that is the best-selling liquor in the country.

Another well-known rum producer in Belize is Cuello's Distillery, a family-owned and operated business founded more than 70 years ago. Based in the town of Orange Walk in the heart of Belize's sugar cane farming region, Cuello's Distillery was founded by Ignacio Cuello, a master blender and distiller. Their signature rum products include Caribbean Rum (Dark) and Caribbean Coconut Rum.

Copalli is also among the best rum brands available in Belize and the world. Their organic single-estate rum is sustainably crafted with only three ingredients in the heart of the rainforest in Southern Belize. Some of their popular rums include Copalli White Rum, Copalli Barrel Rested Rum, and Copalli Cocoa Rum.

Hot sauce

Belize is known for its habanero and jalapeno peppers, so it's no surprise that hot sauce is a popular buy for tourists. One of the most popular brands is Marie Sharp's, which is available in grocery stores across Belize and at the international airport. The sauces are made with fresh red Belizean habanero peppers, hand-chopped carrots, natural vinegar, hand-chopped white onions, sea salt, freshly squeezed key lime juice, and fresh garlic.

Marie Sharp's offers a range of heat levels, from mild to extreme heat, so there's something for everyone. The company also sells a variety of other products, including jams, seasonings, and squash.

If you're looking for a truly authentic taste of Belize, try the Marie Sharp's Original Exotic Sauce. This was the first sauce created by Marie and her family, and it's now made by 20 employees who are like family. The sauce is a little spicy and very delicious, with a unique blend of ingredients including fresh green mangoes, tamarind, raisins, ginger, sugar, vinegar, onions, garlic, and habanero peppers.

For those who crave heat, Marie Sharp's has a range of hotter sauces, including the Fiery Hot (Gold Label), which is one of the brand's original carrot-based recipes and a best seller. There's also the No Wimps Allowed sauce, which is sure to bring some serious heat to your meals.

So, if you're looking for a taste of Belize to take home, be sure to grab a bottle or two of Marie Sharp's hot sauce. It's the perfect way to add a little spice to your meals and remember your trip to this beautiful country.

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