Hi,

I'll be traveling to Argentina next week for ten days (BsAs and Mendoza) and wondered if anyone could recommend some authentic inexpensive Argentinian products that would make good gifts? I am particularly interested in food items that would not be problematic to bring into U.S. (P.S. I already have jars of dulce de leche on my list), but am open to other items /recommendations. Thank you! /G

Alfajores...Havanna is good. (they sell them at the airport as you leave to make it easier)

Anything leather..
Handbags in some of the shops in Palermo can be about $30-40 US and are quite nice and in style.

I forgot the name of the stone, it is an Argentine stone and is really pretty, it is pink and sold everywhere in bracelets and necklaces..look at the Feria at Recoleta on the weekends, you can get it for a good price there.

I suggest shopping in the Ferias...hand made and authentic Argentine products and good fun shopping.

It is easy to shop here, just walk down the street

I agree with Scarlett about going to weekend markets to pick up crafts to take home as gifts...

I like the Mataderos market where I have purchased--hand made and died wool scarves, leather coasters and place mats, a wine holder made from horseshoes, mates ( a hollowed out dried gourd used for drinking Yerba mate tea. A complete set consists of a mate and a bombilla (sp?), a metal straw used to drink mate) and bottles of homemade limoncello are among the more interesting gifts I have picked up.

Havannas are indeed yummy and convenient....

For purses, my wife likes Prune stores...this is a chain with branches all over town...

The feria in Recoleta features a lot of hand made jewelry and such...bracelets, necklaces and rings....which tend toward the sort made by "counter culture" types in the USA back in the 60s.

About the world-famous drdawggy's "mate and a bombilla (sp?)", the spelling is absolutely correct. LOL!!!

The pink stone is called Rhodochrosite & you will find it in many of the Recoleta stalls in the flea mkt.

Thanks everyone,

Especially for the flea market tips.

I am from San Francisco, foodie paradise really, and I can some of the food items you mention here, such as alfajores (even that brand! but others as well) and limoncello (which actually originates from S. Italy, home of my paisanos. I think that is how it made its way to Argentina with all the Italian immigrants). I guess I was looking for things that were a bit more obscure - foodwise. Any spice blends, chocolate brands or candy, unique condiments?

And how about for the guys? I am hoping to get a jump on my Christmas shopping while I'm there!

Cheers. G