What to bring from Morocco? The best souvenirs
You are unlikely to have the question of what to bring from Morocco once you find yourself in one of the local markets. You just want to buy everything! Such a variety of colors, colors, handicrafts … I will tell you what souvenirs from Morocco to bring as a gift to yourself, family and friends. There are wonderful markets, perhaps the best of all the countries where we were. It is really hard to leave home without shopping. Read also:
In every more or less touristy town you will find a traditional bazaar (called “suk” locally) with a large selection of souvenirs. Yes, there are modern stores too, but shopping in them lacks color and adventure. But the bazaar is often the most interesting place in town. Buying is not without conversation and the obligatory bargaining, the seller may even be upset if you do not try to bargain with him a discount. So immediately at several times reduce the offered price, walk among the counters, to assess the price. The local currency is called the dirham. One dollar is around 9.5 dirhams, 1 Euro is around 11 dirhams. For prices in rubles multiply by 7. You can change your currency in banks; the exchange rate is almost the same everywhere (except in the most touristic areas of Agadir and Marrakech). Read more about money and prices in Morocco here. Leather goods
It’s not for nothing that I put leather goods at the top of the list. Morocco has long been famous for the skills of local tanneries, such ovaries here are of excellent quality and at reasonable prices. The largest selection is in Fez, the city where the famous dyehouses are located. Here you can find the entire production cycle, with the technology of the Middle Ages, which is still used today. You can find all kinds of leather goods here: wallets, belts, shoes and bags. The price depends on quality, size and many other parameters. For example we were offered a travel bag of medium size for 250 dirhams, which is very cheap. And that’s without bargaining. True, these products smell peculiar. When you go to the dye house, you will understand why. Babushi
Traditional slippers (or shoes, I don’t know exactly what to call them). There is a home version (reminiscent of our slippers), and there is a street version with pointed toes. We flew from Istanbul to Casablanca with a group of elderly people and even then we noticed these slippers with a narrow and raised nose. They come in different sizes, plain or decorated with stones, gold or silver threads. Accordingly the price difference, usually starts from 50 dirhams.
What to take back from Morocco
in cosmetics? Of course the famous argan oil! Argan tree grows only in Morocco, and the oil is considered to be an excellent skin and hair care product. You can buy argan oil directly as well as shampoos, creams, and balms with argan oil in them. In many markets there are not only argan oil stores, but also small argan oil factories, you can even squeeze it yourself by ancient technology. Small factories are found on the road from Essaouira to Agadir and surroundings, you can buy it right there. How do you know when it is good argan oil? It must have a strong nutty smell. Sometimes sellers can dilute it with olive oil, and then the smell is not so strong. Also popular are handmade soaps (based on natural herbs, rose, jasmine, lavender) and perfume. Tableware
Souvenirs from Morocco
is difficult to imagine without the local dishes. Here they love it and know how to make it. The undoubted bestseller is tajine. It is a clay pan with a cone-shaped lid, in which they cook traditional dishes of vegetables and meat. Tagines cost around 40-60 dirhams depending on the size.
Be sure to check out the elaborate teapots, trays, and cups with patterns for tea. Then you will drink tea with mint and sugar at home and remember Morocco 🙂 Teapots can be copper or silver-plated… the price depends on that. For a small, simple teapot they ask 70 dirhams, for a solid copper teapot they ask 150 dirhams, the really good one will cost you around 200 dirhams. There is no price limit.
The ceramic tableware is also very popular, a large selection of which can be found in Fez and Safi. The Marrocan fixtures and mirrors are a work of art! They are made of bronze or glass and come in pendant, floor and table lamps.
The traditional mirror looks like a window with shutters, only the shutters are often not wooden (although there are some), but metal or cloth. Food Sweets Dates (a wide variety), apricots, prunes, baklava, halva, kozinaki – Morocco has it all. Unfortunately, the prices of sweets are quite high, but the quality is excellent. Just try and feel the difference.
Spices Buy a few bags of local spices, in the markets they are stacked in spectacular cones of bright colors.
Olives are not likely to be seen after Morocco, but it is possible to buy them. A huge selection of pickled olives can be found in supermarkets and markets. The price is about 30-40 dirhams per kilo. Clothing Looking at the local brightly dressed women, you may want to buy something to wear. The most popular souvenir that tourists take home are handkerchiefs (Morocco is a Muslim country, although not very strict). They are there a variety of colors and fabrics (silk, chiffon, cotton, cashmere, and so on), summer and winter, large and small. Prices for headscarves start from Dhs 15 – 20 for the light ones up to Dhs 100 for the thick ones.
Men may be interested in buying a djellaba, a robe with a hood with a pointed end. On the local djellaba looks very colorful, the thing is practical, it protects well from the sun. Although, I agree, you’re unlikely to wear it at home. We bought Anya something like a kaftan of thick fabric at a rummage sale somewhere deep in the medinas of Marrakech. It’s only 40 dirhams, it would just cost more at our place.
The Marrocan jewelry looks unusual, with European, African and Arab influences. A variety of beads, pendants, bracelets and earrings are available in huge numbers in the markets.
Carpets Carpets are not a trademark of Morocco, unlike Azerbaijan or Iran, for example. But still you can buy such goods here too. In the markets and stores you will find both large and small, with incredible Arabian patterns, all colors and colors… To identify a real wool carpet, set fire to the thread. Wool smells like burnt feather, and synthetics have a distinctive “plastic” smell.
On the shelves you can often find products made of thuja – combs, coasters, cutting boards and just different crafts. Prices range from 5-10 dirhams. Now you know what to bring from Morocco to your friends and acquaintances, and you will go to the markets with a specific purpose 🙂 Have a
Leave a Reply