We tell you what to bring from Spain: from jamon and cheeses to desserts and wines. Prices for popular souvenirs and gifts. Tourist tips where it is more profitable to buy and how to save money.
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Fan
In Spain, a fan is not only a woman's accessory. Because of the hot climate, men also actively use fans. Traditional Spanish fans are made of plastic, paper, lace, wood and fabric, decorated with images of flowers and landscapes. Tourists appreciate hand-made fans more.
Price... A fan costs from 2 euros to 500 euros. The price depends on the size, material and quality of work.
Advice... Don't buy the cheapest fans. This is not a Spanish product, but Chinese counterfeits.
Olive oil
Olive oil on the Iberian Peninsula - souvenir number 1. If you do not know what to bring from Spain as a gift to the hostess, buy oil of the first or second extraction. It has a slight bitterness and is suitable for salads, baking or frying.
Lovers of home cosmetics will also be happy with such a gift. Olive oil is an excellent treatment for face and body skin. In Spain, oil is sold in glass bottles of 0.5 l and 1 l, plastic containers and cans of 3 l and 5 l.
Price... Quality oil costs from 4-5 euros per bottle.
Advice... According to tourists, the most valuable virgin oil Virgen Extra... It contains less than 0.5% acid and is made from olives of the variety arbequina, which almost do not taste bitter. This oil is produced in bottles with green corks.
Jamon
The process of making a dry-cured ham is long and laborious, but an incomparable spicy taste is obtained. Wondering what to bring from Spain? Take a pack of jamon. The Spanish delicacy is easy to buy at the supermarket or market. Don't worry about shipping! Jamon has a very long shelf life.
Price... Good meat isn't cheap. A quality ham costs 18-25 euros per kg. Elite varieties - 40-50 euros each, and the most expensive jamon Iberico - 300 euros. In butchers' shops on the famous La Rambla in Barcelona, prices start at 20 euros. In supermarkets, packages cost from 1-4 euros, depending on the weight and type of jamon.
Advice... Be sure to taste the jamon before buying. This is normal practice in Spain.
Cheeses
What do all tourists bring from Spain? Delicate cheeses are especially loved. About a thousand of their varieties are made in the country. It is easy to understand the passion of the Spaniards for this product. It's enough to try sheep cheese Manchego, goat cheese from Malaga, soft cow's milk cheese Tupí or the blue pearl of Asturias - Cabrales.
Price... Spanish cheeses start at 15 euros per kg.
Find out how much money to take to Spain.
Advice... For transportation, take hard and semi-hard varieties, for example, Curado Mezcla, Majorero and Idiazabal de Pastor... They are sold in 330 g heads and vacuum sealed.
Saffron
Culinary experts from all over the world appreciate Spanish saffron for its delicious aroma and bright, rich color. Long ago, the famous paella spice was brought to Europe from India. It was so expensive that it was sold at the price of gold. Today saffron is grown in the La Mancha region. Spain is the world leader in its export. The king of all spices is sold in any supermarket in the country.
Price... There is no cheap saffron! 0.3-1 gram costs from 4 to 15 euros. The price depends on the manufacturer and the quality of the spice.
Advice... Buy spices from chain stores El Corte, Lidl, Mercadona, Carrefour and Dia... There is a large assortment and the lowest prices.
Spanish desserts
What can you bring sweet lovers from Spain? The Spaniards are famous for their sweet tooth. Delicious sweets are made in different parts of the country. A popular bun with candied pumpkin strings in Mallorca Ensaimada... In Andalusia, they love sweet biscuits made with pork fat. The people of Barcelona are crazy about Christmas nougat and nuts turron, and the Catalans are from a close relative of the French crème brulee cream catalana.
With the exception of sweet pastries, Spanish sweets have a long shelf life. They can withstand the way back home without any problems.
Price... Tile turron costs 2 euros per 200 g, exclusive varieties - 20 euros per 1 kg. Sweet dessert polvoron - 3 euros for 300 g, 1 kg of Santiago cake - 17 euros, Ensaimada - 2-3 euros.
Advice... Sweet souvenirs can be bought anywhere. Tourists shop during excursions to cities in Spain, in supermarkets and a duty-free shop when flying home.
Candied violets
Delicate candied violets can be brought from Spain as an unusual souvenir and for gifts to loved ones. They are considered a visiting card of the country and a kind of sweet "flag" of Spain. The composition of the dessert includes essence of flowers, sugar, glucose and flavorings. In a Madrid pastry shop La Violeta candied violets have been produced and sold since 1915.
Price... 1 kg of delicacies costs 120-150 euros.
Advice... The shop selling candied violets is located in Madrid, at Plaza de Canalejas, 6. It is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00.
Spanish wine
Of course, you can and should bring wine from Spain! It is the birthplace of cider, sherry and cava sparkling wine. Any Spanish drink will delight you with its light taste and pleasant aroma. It will be a great wine!
The Spaniards publish the Supervinos Consumer Guide annually, which lists the best brands of wine available. Pay attention to whites from inexpensive wines Pluvium, Veliterra verdejo and Castillo de Liria... Taste rosé wines Gran Castillo Tempranillo Rosé, Enterizo rosado and Castillo de madax rosado... Red wine lovers recommend Dominio de los Duques Madurado, Viña Albali Tinto Reserva and Clot D'Encís Tinto Joven.
Price... Table wines, or Vinos de Mesa, cost between 1.5 and 5 euros per bottle. Prices for elite varieties go up to 300 euros.
Advice... Buy spirits at specialty liquor stores and bodegas bodega... It has the largest selection of wines, champagne and sherry. Bring the delicious from Andalusia Vino de naranja - orange wine.
What else can you bring from Spain
- Toledo letter and paper knife - 10 euros.
- Bull figurines - from 5 euros.
- Castanets - from 10 euros.
- Spanish carpets - from 20-25 euros.
- Braided shoes espadrilles - from 60 euros.
- Spanish tea - 5 euros.
- Leather wineskin for wine - 30 euros.
- Catalan wine vessel porron - 5-30 euros.
- Thin pork sausage fuet - 5 euros.
- Spicy pork sausage chorizo - 1-5 euros.
- Paella set - 10-25 euros.
- Wine drink "Sangria" - from 2 euros.
What to bring from Spain: shopping overview
What cannot be exported from Spain
Any historical and cultural values are prohibited for export. The number of cigarettes is limited - up to 800 pieces. If you need more, you will have to provide evidence that you are transporting the goods not for commercial purposes, but for personal use.
The same goes for alcohol. Up to 10 liters of spirits and up to 90 liters of wine can be exported from Spain.
Travel Tips
- Spain has a season of winter sales from January 7th to March 7th and summer sales from July 1st to August 31st. Dates may vary slightly depending on the region. The savings are significant - up to 70% of the original price.
- Tourists from countries outside the EU can get back 10-15% of purchases using Tax Free... There are few conditions - the age is over 16 years old and the purchase of goods in the amount of at least 90.16 euros. Ask the seller to complete the Tax Free Form and present it to Tax Refund Office at the airport of departure.
- For long-term transportation, buy olive oil not in glass, but in rectangular cans. They are compact and won't crash on the way. Convenient packaging - 3 liters.
- If you do not know which wine to bring from Spain, ask the shop assistant what he prefers. You will receive a detailed insight into the history of Spanish winemaking and valuable advice.
