What to bring from Crimea as a gift is of interest to almost every tourist. The ancient peninsula has a rich tradition that is embodied in a variety of souvenirs. Sometimes buying gifts becomes an obsession. In fact, everything is not so scary: you just need to know the tastes of those who are supposed to be presented with a souvenir, and plan the amount that is supposed to be spent on gifts. And in the markets or shops of the peninsula, there will always be those items that will delight friends and loved ones.
Wine
Excellent wines can be purchased that will be appreciated by connoisseurs. Currently, the vineyards destroyed in 1985 have been completely restored, and even unique varieties of berries have been distributed. And the special climate of the peninsula gives raw materials incomparable taste and aroma. The most famous manufacturers (Massandra, Zolotaya Balka, Magarach, Inkerman) have branded stores, which offer customers to try their products. The tasting is inexpensive, after which you can buy your favorite wine on the spot.
It is important to remember: winemakers sell drinks in glass bottles, bags with aseptic inner lining, or on the bottle. In glass containers, wine has a long shelf life: during bottling, the contents are pasteurized. The taste changes slightly. And when packed in aseptic bags, this operation is not performed. Due to its unpresentable appearance, wine bought for bottling can only be presented to very close people.
Cognac
Connoisseurs will always distinguish cognac produced in Crimea from any other. The local noble strong drink:
- fruity aroma with pronounced hints of spices
- taste with light fruity and bright alcoholic notes and gradual long-term disclosure of the entire range
- long and enveloping aftertaste
- honey or amber color
And they produce a drink on the peninsula for every taste and budget: from ordinary to collectible. So, there is an opportunity to surprise a colleague or close friend.
There are several factories producing cognacs:
- Koktebel. Has been working since 1879. The most famous among all manufacturers.
- October. Organized in 1962. But in 2014 it was partially moved to the Odessa region.
- Simferopol winery. Has been manufacturing products since 1959.
- Alushta Magliv. Has been working since 1872.
- Aleph-Vinal. A company with foreign capital. Organized in 1999. In 2014 it was divided into 2: one works in Ukraine, the second - in Russia.
Even an ordinary inexpensive cognac can serve as an excellent basis for original cocktails made at home. Beautiful packaging will make the gift unforgettable.
Fruits and dried fruits
The peninsula has a unique climate. And therefore, the fruits grown here are an excellent souvenir for residents of other regions. But in order not to be mistaken, you should know when this or that fruit ripens. This is important in order not to buy imported (Turkish) goods.
Delicious:
- Cherries. It ripens in mid-May and peaks in mid-June.
- Mulberry. This berry is a real exotic for the inhabitants of the northern regions. It is dark (black) and white (slightly yellowish). Too ripe berries are not stored for long. Ripens from mid-June to mid-July.
- Local quince appears on the market in September-October. It is fragrant and perfectly tolerates transportation.
- Figs on the peninsula give two harvests per season: in June-July and in August-September. It comes in green or purple.
- Garnet. During the season (late August - early October), the entire market is strewn with these fruits. You can bring both the pomegranates themselves and freshly squeezed juice.
- Dogwood. A great souvenir for those who care about health. It begins to ripen in July and ends in September.
- Grape. The earliest varieties appear on the market in July, the later ones in October. Berries are transported without loss of marketability.
But it is impossible to give a guarantee that dried fruits purchased from a private trader on the market are made from local raw materials. For a gift, it is better to choose branded packaging, which indicates which fruits the souvenir is made of.
Jam and honey
From the amount of fruits and berries that grows on the territory of the peninsula, an unusually many types of jam are prepared. Moreover, some delicacies are made according to the old technology, in which the raw materials preserve the taste and aroma as much as possible. And how the juniper, lavender or ginger jam will amaze your friend! True, traditionally for a gift they bring jam from green walnuts or rose petals.
Peninsula honey is divided not only by the type of bribe (linden, lavender, chestnut, cornflower blue), but also by the place where the bribe was taken:
- Bakhchisarai. This honey is distinguished by its amber color, thick consistency and notes of mint in a long-lasting aftertaste.
- Belogorsky. Has a bright amber color, spicy aftertaste. The aroma contains notes of fruit.
- Steppe. Differs in a thick consistency, dark color. Crystallizes quickly.
- Mountain. It has a light yellow color, bright aroma and a unique, slightly tart taste.
May honey occupies a separate position. It is very delicate, light consistency, fruity aroma. Some beekeepers offer to purchase beautifully designed honey in combs. This is a very interesting souvenir: the taste of honey is complemented by the astringency of the capping and the viscosity of the wax. And there is no need to talk about the benefits of such a product.
Yalta onion
Speaking of the Yalta onion, it should be understood that this plant was cultivated in the highlands. And his brother (the same flat and purple), collected in the steppe, has completely different characteristics and cannot be called Yalta.
In order to please friends or relatives with a real onion, it is recommended to learn how to choose a product:
- First, the condition of the covering scales should be assessed. In Yalta onions, they fit snugly to the head, retain freshness, juiciness and do not flake off.
- The inner scales are thick (about 5 mm). Their number is up to 7 pieces.
- On the cut, the inner scales are white, their edges are pink or purple.
- The taste of Yalta onions is soft, pungent, but not pungent.
There are few fields where real Yalta onions grow. Therefore, unscrupulous sellers mix steppe onions into the original. When buying braids, you need to ensure that the woven heads are uniform, without dried or torn cover scales.
Wooden souvenirs
On the peninsula, tourists are traditionally offered wood products. Coasters for hot dishes, pendants, bracelets, juniper napkin holders are very popular. The reason for this is the unique smell that the wood retains for several months, and the graceful pattern of annual rings on the cut.
Several species of this shrub grow in the mountains. In Kara-Dag, tourists walking along the ecological path are shown a unique juniper grove. But this is a slow-growing shrub, so unauthorized harvesting of wood is prohibited. For souvenirs, crafts made from other, less valuable, wood species are suitable.
Healing mud and salt
For a long time, people have used therapeutic mud and salt for health improvement or rejuvenation. Therefore, the deposits located nearby made it possible for the settlement to receive the status of a balneological resort. And the brought useful souvenir will delight not only ladies, but also a strong half of humanity. Peloids are found on the western and eastern coasts of the peninsula. Their properties are slightly different. From above, the deposits are covered with brine: a supersaturated saline solution. Both mud and brine have beneficial properties.
The most famous deposits of peloids:
- Saki mud lake
- Moinaki (near Evpatoria)
- Sasyk-Sivash (between Saki and Evpatoria)
- Donuzlav (Cape Tarkhankut)
- Chokrak (near Kerch)
- mud volcanoes
Pink salt is unique in its composition, which is mined on the Sasyk-Sivash lake. It contains useful minerals, and the percentage of sodium chloride is less than in a conventional cookery. It is added to dishes, while the taste becomes unforgettable.
It is important to remember: both salt and peloids are the bowels of the earth. Therefore, souvenirs should be purchased only from companies licensed to develop these deposits. In addition, the official manufacturer indicates the purpose of the therapeutic mud, ensures the bacteriological safety of raw materials.
Aromatic oils and natural soaps
Bring the smell of the sun and summer as a souvenir: what could be better! Natural aromatic oils have long been produced on the peninsula. They were used as perfume, added to water while taking a bath, and had aromatherapy sessions. An excellent souvenir for ladies will be perfume and cosmetic oils packed in 10 ml bottles or 100 g packs. And rose or lavender oil is an excellent remedy for softening a sensitive body.
These preparations not only smooth and rejuvenate the skin, but also relieve irritation. Recently, natural soap made on the peninsula has become popular. It's nice that the products are made by hand, using local natural ingredients. A fragrant piece can contain not only an extract from herbs or honey, but also healing mud and even wine materials.
This soap is rich in polyphenols, which rejuvenate and smooth the skin. The natural product does not deform and does not get soaked in a soap dish. It is pleasant to use it: it moisturizes the skin, nourishes it. Souvenirs are smartly packed, and the price is quite affordable.
Herbal pads
This is ideal for those who need to give gifts to many: for example, work colleagues. The fancy pads are made in the form of small sachets or larger rolls under the neck. And the filler is:
- aromatic herbs growing on the peninsula (mint, lavender, thyme)
- sea salt
- seaweed
- essential oils
All ingredients are packed in a colorful cotton pillowcase. Such a gift will help even easily excitable people fall asleep without problems. And the aroma lasts for 6-9 months. Some people use lavender bags to flavor their clothes and even to fight moths.
Natural cosmetic
The peninsula has many natural ingredients that are used in the production of cosmetics. These are herbs, flowers, fruits, algae, sea salt, honey and bee products, wine materials. At the same time, the developers take into account how the ingredients affect the processes taking place in the body.
And you can buy a wide range of:
- caring and decorative creams
- hair masks
- scrubs
- aromatic body oils
- shampoos and rinses
- shower and wash gels
- make-up removers, lotions
It is noteworthy that cosmetics made from natural ingredients have a sufficient shelf life. Such a gift will organically complement the grooming collection for the most discerning lady. True, sometimes buying such a souvenir, you will have to spend money: you need a full line (day and night creams, lotion, make-up remover).
Essential oils
The most famous producer of essential oils on the peninsula is the Crimean Rose plant. His assortment includes natural product packages of 1.5 ml or 10 ml. Or you can purchase a set of several types attached to a postcard with views of the peninsula. An original aromatic lamp is perfect for such a souvenir. This set will delight aromatherapy lovers.
Interestingly, the products of the plant can now be found in stores at gas stations. Crimean Rose and gasoline sellers signed a long-term cooperation agreement.
Herbal preparations and teas
For people who care about health, a collection of medicinal herbs or herbal tea is a great gift. And the range of products will not leave anyone indifferent. An attentive buyer comes across:
- medicinal herbs (mint, chamomile, lavender, thyme, rose petals)
- treatment fees (for those who want to quit smoking, soothing, vitamin, for women, pancreas, joy of movement, for men)
- black tea with the addition of medicinal herbs
- tea with pieces of fruit (strawberry, raspberry, peach)
For exotic lovers, tea "Bakhchisarai", "Khansky", "Mountain Crimea", "Crimean Coast" will be an excellent gift. On sale there are both tea for brewing in a teapot and in tea bags. All ingredients are collected in ecologically clean areas of the peninsula, dried in compliance with all the rules. Sets are very popular: herbal tea and jam (or honey). All souvenirs are packed in boxes or bags with views of the Crimea.
Spices
The peninsula is famous for its varied cuisine. Karaite and Crimean Tatar presuppose the presence of spicy spices: they give dishes a unique taste and aroma. And the unique hot climate and low rainfall give the additives a piquant pungency. And what prevents you from bringing a set of spices as a gift so that in the cold winter months you can enjoy the scent of a sunny summer that the herbs have absorbed?
The shelves of souvenir shops attract the eye with colorful sets with different spices for:
- meat
- pilaf
- fish
- kebab
- grill
- shurpy
- lagman
- mutton
- B-B-Q
Or you can go to the market and purchase some kind of separate condiment that a friend or relative will like. It is worth paying attention to Svan salt (ordinary sodium chloride with the addition of ground walnuts and secret herbs). Each owner has their own recipe. Sellers give the product a try, but sell in bulk. Salads cooked with such salt acquire an extraordinary taste. And you will have to pack the purchase beautifully yourself.
Sweets
Karaites and Crimean Tatars traditionally prepared sweets only from natural products. They used honey, nuts, fruits and berries, herbs and flowers - everything that grew and grows in abundance on the peninsula. And desserts prepared according to ancient traditions are a great souvenir.
And you can buy one thing (Turkish delight, churchkhela, baklava) or a whole set. Manufacturers delight tourists with original gift wrapping, where only natural sweets are presented. There are several types of lokums, candied fruits, churchkhela. In some embodiments, stevia is used as a sweetener. Such a souvenir is a great gift for a sweet tooth.
Crafts from onyx
Astrologers attribute to different stones the influence on the human body. Onyx, in their opinion, strengthens health, improves sleep, and gives vigor. And for the rest of the people it is just a beautiful stone, heterogeneous in structure, products from which raise the mood. Through the mineral you can look at the sun, it is wonderfully colored by the rays of the daylight. Peninsula carvers produce souvenir figurines, ashtrays, ornaments. They are inlaid with watches, used for making checkers or chess. And such a gift will certainly come in handy in a box with your favorite jewelry or on your desktop.
What to bring your child
Any baby will be happy to receive an unusual shell caught in the Black Sea. And if a fabulous composition is made from the shells of several mollusks, there will be no limit to delight. Crafts are developed on the peninsula. And the child will like unusual clay whistles or funny wooden figurines. Psychologists believe that such toys are more useful than the fantastic heroes of modern cartoons. An older girl will be delighted with jewelry made of wood, onyx or ceramics produced by local craftsmen. A teenage boy will appreciate a souvenir from a shop at the Balaklava Museum with heroic symbols.
Where is the best place to buy souvenirs
Usually you have to buy a lot of souvenirs. Therefore, before purchasing, you should walk around the markets and souvenir shops and compare prices. On the central streets, products are much more expensive than on the outskirts.
To make successful purchases, it is recommended to adhere to simple rules:
- If an excursion is planned, it is recommended to take an additional amount. Perhaps there is something unusual in the souvenir shops.
- If you want to bring something custom made, you should talk to the seller. He will recommend the right master.
- Honey can be bought at the apiary. A qualified beekeeper will recommend the right product and tell you about its beneficial properties.
- Cosmetics and perfumes should be purchased at retail outlets that have refrigeration equipment: it is necessary to preserve the useful properties of goods.
You should buy any souvenir products only in places designated for trade. And it will be useful to ask sellers for safety certificates for the goods.
