Of Chocolate, Rum and Spice: Food Souvenirs of the Caribbean

There’s nothing better than bringing back food and drink (well, perhaps jewelry…) as souvenirs from your Caribbean cruise. And unlike bottle openers, magnets and t-shirts, they’re actually made where you buy them. Check out musingaboutcruising.blogspot.com for a list by island of what you can get to give when you’re home or keep all to yourself.

Banana ketchup from St Lucia. Sounds weird, tastes great.

Blue Mountain Coffee from Jamaica.

Hot (and I mean _HOT_) sauce from Costa Rica/Honduras/Belize.

Vanilla extract from Mexico.

I agree. I always bring local spice mixes and hot sauces. I got an entire 'exotic' cabinet in my kitchen, full of local stuff. I'm always sad to use the last, because I like most of it.

Specially the things aren't really known here in Europe (Jerk, Hot sauces except Tabasco,...)

It's just a shame a lot of countries have strict rules regarding hard liqour. So technically, I can only bring 1 bottle of rum when I visit the Caribbean. I'd bring suitcases full of local products :-)

Tortuga Rum Cake!

It's like your favorite rum drink for dessert. What could be better than that?

Hmm, those cakes are delish, raider :-)

I remember the first time I brought one for my parents, they were sad when they finished it and asked me when I'd go back to bring some more. They also deliver them, but shipping rates to Belgium are quite high :(

I haven't bought anything back other than alcohol but I plan on getting spices next time I cruise :)

Anyone have any advice on where to get good vanilla in Mexico? Last time we were Cozumel (2009) I bought some at one of the shops not far off from the port and quite frankly it had a very funny taste to it - ended up throwing it away after a couple of uses.

Thanks!

I always return home with some of the standard Rum Cakes. But, recently, I have also purchased some Rum Cakes made with that local island's Rum. Different, but in a good way, I have found.

Unfortunately, I didn't begin collecting unique food items until we had already been on a few cruises.:( However, I have since corrected that error and go out of my way to locate unique foods as well as non import spirits.:D

Marie Sharp's hot sauce from Belize is EXCELLENT! Also, the Tortuga rum company sauces are very good. Tortuga rum cakes are tasty, but we LOVED the ones from Blackbeard's in Grand Cayman. We picked up Mexican vanilla from Los Cinco Soles and it is great! We've also picked up several spice mixes from Nassau that are quite good as well.

On our first visit to Cozumel 2 years ago, we took the ferry to Playa del Carmen, and found a store on 5th Ave called Ah, Cacao. My husband is a pastry chef, he loved their products, so we bought a decent amount of chocolate. On our next trip to Cozumel, he insisted we go back to Playa del Carmen, and he bought over $40 worth of chocolate! I told him next time, we will actually spend some time in Cozumel.

We were in St Maarten last month, found a lovely little spice shop, bought a decent sized bag of herbs de Provence, some cinnamon, and chipotle spices, for about $12, a bargain for the amount we got.

Busha Browne's spicy tomato love apple sauce from Jamaica.

Bajan hot sauce from Barbados. I have found nothing else like it. It's a yellow sauce made with scotch bonnets, mustard and vinegar.

Bajan hot sauce from Barbados. I have found nothing else like it. It's a yellow sauce made with scotch bonnets, mustard and vinegar.

I looked it up on the web... It does look good!