From coffee to rum, souvenirs from the Dominican Republic can be rich and tasty.
Shopping in the Dominican Republic often consists of browsing through beautiful jewelries that reflect upon the Caribbean oceans and tasting the abundance of its natural resources. Here are some lovely items that make wonderful gifts for friends and family. Or even better, for yourself to enjoy back home so you can always remember sandy beaches and dreamy waters.
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Larimar
In Santo Domingo, Larimar can be seen in most gift shops. It’s a rare blue silicate mineral pectolite originally discovered in the Dominican Republic. The colors can range from pale blue, aqua blue, turquoise green, turquoise blue, indigo…etc. They’re usually crafted into necklaces, rings, bracelets and other accessories. According to Tiny Rituals, Larimar symbolizes “clear communication and inner wisdom.”
Larimar stone. PHOTO WENDY HUNGCoffee
Coffee aways makes an aromatic gift. Caffeine addicts certainly can’t leave Dominican Republic without a bag of local beans. Most plantations are in Barahona, Cibao, Okoa and Bani. The best part is that 90% of Dominican coffee is grown in eco-friendly and smaller farms, without using pesticides or other chemicals. The most popular brand is, in fact, called: Santo Domingo, grown in the highlands. The beans are medium roasted but contains a darker taste. Light yet nutty.
Photo by Gian Cescon on UnsplashCocoa
It was the Spaniards who first introduced cacao to Dominicans in 17th century. Later, when the French took over the island, they also planted new varieties from other colonies. Today, Dominican Republic is the premier exporter of Fair Trade, organic cocoa since the land now grows high-quality cocoa. At Kahkow Experience, you can learn about the history of cocoa and taste them yourself at the in-house café. You can also create your own chocolate bar!
FACEBOOK Kahkow ExperienceCigars
What is so incredibly special about bringing home cigars from the Dominican Republic is that they’re hand-rolled, and handmade right in front of you. They’re typically made with three components: wrapper, filler, and binder. There are two shapes of cigars: parejos (straight and cylindrical) and figurados (curled.) The sizes vary too, from smaller ones (100 mm) to larger cigars (up to 194 mm.) Keep in mind that difference in size and shape can alter the taste of each cigar.
Handmade cigars. PHOTO WENDY HUNGRum
Photo by Ash Edmonds on UnsplashMuseum of Rum is a lovely place to learn more about the history of rum and sugar cane, from roots of slavery to the development as a source of economic prosperity for the nation. The museum is attached to a ballroom where several night of the week, various dances showcased: merengue, salsa, zumba…etc. There’s also a gift shop where travelers can purchase infused rum made by the museum staff. Ginger, cilantro, pineapple, passion fruit…every flavor is homemade and delicious!
