Here's my picks for the best authentic Caribbean-related gifts to brighten any holiday or occasion -- or just to bring home rather than that same old t-shirt or gift-shop shot glass!
Caribbean Rum
© St. Nicholas Abbey
Other than sunshine, the Caribbean's most famous export is rum, and this liquor distilled from molasses (a byproduct of sugar=cane cultivation) remains the most popular souvenir for Caribbean travelers. Rhum shops are popular throughout the Caribbean, so when you give the gift of rum you truly are providing a taste of authentic Caribbean culture. You can often visit the distilleries where these strong spirits are made: When in Barbados, pick up a bottle of Mount Gay Rum, first produced in 1703, or the connoisseurs' choice, St. Nicholas Abbey Rum. If you are in Bermuda, you'll need Gosling's to make a Dark n' Stormy. Puerto Rico is home to Bacardi, known for its light rums. You can find local rums in just about every Caribbean island.
Angostura Bitters from Trinidad
© Bob Curley
Angostura bitters -- a secret mix of herbs and spices used as a cocktail mixer and cure-all for a variety of ailments -- is made in Trinidad by the House of Angostura, which also produces local rums. Perhaps the most famous drink made with Angostura bitters is the Manhattan, a mix of bitters, whiskey, and sweet vermouth. A small bottle of bitters fits neatly into your luggage, making it an ideal holiday gift from the islands.
Spices from Grenada
Grenada is known as The Spice Island and remains a major producer of spices like ginger, nutmeg, clove, vanilla, clove, and cinnamon. You can pick up packages of fresh, aromatic spices to bring back home at the markets in Grenada's capital of St. George's, at Grand Anse beach, near the cruise port, and at many souvenir shops.Tortuga Rum Cake
You've probably seen these famous rum cakes in your local supermarket around the holidays, but you can buy the freshest cakes directly from the Tortuga Rum Co. Ltd. shops in Key West, Fla., and George Town, Grand Cayman. The company also sells Tortuga Light and Gold rums and other rum productsGuavaberry from St. Maarten
© Bob Curley
The Guavaberry shop in Philipsburg, St. Maarten is one of the island's most popular tourist destinations and the best place to pick up a bottle of St. Maarten's folk liqueur, made from a rare and bitter local berry found in the island's interior. In addition to rum blended with guavaberries, the shop stocks guavaberry honey, hot sauces, and other products.
Batik from St. Kitts or Andros
© Robert Curley, 2007
The Caribelle Batik Factory on St. Kitts, located in an old sugar plantation, is bursting with colorfully dyed fabrics and clothing, from sarongs to dresses to pillow covers and wall hangings. Prices are pretty reasonable, too, so you can bring home a unique gift without breaking the bank. If you can't make it out to the factory there's also a nice retail store in the Kittsian capital of Basseterre.
Androsia is a batik fabric and clothing manufacturer located on the island of Andros in the Bahamas. Androsia has a complete line of women's, men's, and children's batik clothing, resort wear, and cruise wear as well as accessories, home goods, batik fabric sold by the yard, and fabric fat quarters for quilting.
Curacao Liqueur
Made from the peels of the laraha fruit grown on Curacao (a type of bitter orange), this liqueur is famous for giving color to drinks like the Blue Hawaiian and the blue margaritas you'll find at many bars. The blue variety is the most famous, but in fact the liquor is colorless when distilled, so you can buy Curacao that is green, red, clear, orange, or flavored with coffee, chocolate, or rum raisin.Model Ships from Bequia
© Bob Curley
The charming island of Bequia, part of the Grenadines and an hour's ferry ride from the main island of St. Vincent, has a long tradition of miniature model boat building, and these delicate pieces of artwork carved from local gum trees make a fantastic -- if somewhat pricey -- gift for any sailor or boat-lover in your life. Ranging in price from about $130 to $8,000, the boats are produced by small companies like Sargeant Brothers and Mauvin's Model Boat Shop (both located on Front Street in Port Elizabeth) and can be shipped home via DHL.
Guava Cheese from Nevis
© Dypresco Products
Guava cheese doesn't actually contain any cheese -- it's the quirky name for an authentic treat from Nevis made of fresh guava, can sugar, pectin and lime juice.
