Gift from Madrid

Foreign visitors often ask in social medias what typical souvenirs should they bring back to their friends and family: it can be a little difficult to choose among many touristic offer when you want to be original, and buy an authentic gift from Madrid, avoiding the usual cliches (a  shirt of Real Madrid football team, representations of the Meninas, or figurines of Flamenco dancers and bullfighters, magnets of all kinds).

That is why I dedicate today’s post to some examples of gifts that will make your friends and family happy, and not end up forgotten in the bottom of a drawer past few months.

Food

Spain is known worldwide for its gastronomy: so always remember Spanish food will delight your friends and family.

Sausages and cheeses

A gift from Madrid that will always make happy your friends and family, is an edible gift. And when you talk about Spanish food, one thinks first of sausages. “Lomo”, chorizo, and of course the king of all, Spanish ham. EC residents will not have problems to carry in your suitcase. You can buy all sausages already sliced, vacuum packed: thus travels very well, and preserves all its flavor. They come in all price ranges, from the cheapest (ham bait, to avoid) to the most expensive (Iberian acorn, “5J.” – Cinco Jotas, which can exceed 80 € / kg). You can buy it anywhere but I suggest to buy it in the Museo del Jamon, a real institution in Madrid, with multiple establishments throughout the capital. These establishments are bars, restaurants, and sales of sausages and cheeses. so you can choose your gifts while having a beer. Spanish cheese are really good too: is another possible gift that travels quite well (vacuum packed) but supports less temperature changes.

Canned food

Canned goods (especially fish and seafood) are a typical Spanish products, and can be an original gift. Some brands offer very high quality products (anchovies, mussels, octopus) and this type of edible travels very well. You will find them in Goumets stores, or in the Corte Inglés: they are not cheap if you want to buy quality, but more than advisable.

Sweet

For those traveling before or after Christmas, a typical gift from Madrid will be the Turrón (nougat): typical Christmas sweet for excellence, you will find all possible flavors. From the original nougat,with almonds (hard) the most tender and flavored (yolk, chocolate strawberry or any flavor). The Turrón is a delight, but not to buy it off the holiday season: first it will be very difficult to find, and then … sure it would be from the year before!!

For those traveling in spring (around May), Rosquillas de San Isidro (cakes), are a very original gift, and travel very well. They are very tasty, very nice (with colored icings) and 100% from Madrid.

Another sweet, 100% gift from Madrid are violet candies: although it is very typical, not like everyone (for its very perfumed flavor, literally). Try them before buying.

Olive oil

Of course, Spain is the country of the best olive oil in the world. It will always be the perfect gift from Madrid for your family and of course it will travel perfectly. Here is more information about the best Spanish olive oil in 2016.

Drinks

Given the restrictions for reasons of safety, air travelers must buy drinks in the airport shops, limiting the choice, but these stores can offer a wide variety of drinks.

Wines

Spanish wines are also part of the world’s best wines, which also happen to be a gift of quality.

The range of wines in Spain is huge: both white and red, make tough competition to French wines. Ribera del Duero, Rioja, Valdepeñas … The list of designations of origin is long. Side. Wines of Madrid will be the most typical for your gift: they are quality wines, many white and red, and pretty cheap.

Digestive

Digestive (the typical shot that many restaurants offer after dinner) are also very typical. The Orujos are very traditional (herbal, white, cream, coffee) but the typical digestive of the Community of Madrid is the Chinchón (alcohol anise from a town of the same name, south of the capital).

Clothes and accessories

Chulapo Cap

The caps have came back into fashion in those years, and a typical and awesome Madrid souvenir will be a chulapo cap. Black and white, they are very elegant.

Fan

I said at the beginning of this post I wanted to help them avoid trashy gifts: the fans can be, but now you can find very beautiful, elegant and modern fans. The Diego House in the Puerta del Sol is the oldest shop, but there are many shops where can find accessories to your taste and to your friends.

Rope-soled sandals

The oldest and most traditional Spanish shoe. Behind the Plaza Mayor, in the neighborhood of La Latina, you will find two shops with all kinds of handmade espadrilles for over a century. It will be a very typical gift from Madrid 🙂

Clothes

Madrid has much more to offer besides Zara, Mango and Berska. In the neighborhoods of Chueca, Salamanca, and in the Barrio de Las Letras, you will find numerous clothing stores and accessories Spanish creators, at reasonable prices. We highlight here two of them we love, La Divina Providencia (Fuencarral Street) and Enfant Terrible (Nuñez de Balboa Street), this last shop bringing together the work of several different designers.

Christmas lottery

Christmas lottery is a typical gift among Spanish people: many Spanish tourists buy Christmas lottery for their relatives living in other regions. It is really famous, and it can be a very original gift. It is sold every year from the beginning of the summer, and until the day before the draw (Dec. 21). They say that the town with more winners is Madrid, and Doña Manolita, in Puerta del Sol, is the reference site to buy the coupons. And it will be a wonderful excuse to go back to Madrid: to collect your prize 🙂

More original gifts here

Enjoy your shopping!