29 Best Souvenirs from Mexico (From an Expert)
Heading to Mexico, and looking for the best souvenirs to bring home? Bienvenido.
I have lots of great ideas for you. I lived in Mexico City, studied there, and speak Spanish fluently. As a result, I have known a lot of Mexicans personally; been invited to their homes, and taken for road trips around the country. As a result, I learned about their favourite items, treats and gifts.
I’ve been really lucky to return to the Mexico City area twice since living there, and have many treasured Mexican souvenirs in my home.
So, rather than only bringing home postcards and magnets, I’m going to show you what really special things to look for in Mexico that are hard (if not, impossible) to find elsewhere.
I will tell you where to find them, so that whether you’re visiting the Maya Riverierva, Oaca, or Mexico City – you’ll be able to find these gems.
Vamos! Best souvenirs to find in Mexico.
29 Best Souvenirs from Mexico to Bring Home
1. A sarape blanket
Sarape blankets are colourful woven blankets that are iconic of Mexico. Their bright and vibrant and colour schemes often ‘pop’ in a room and look great, regardless of where you keep them.
Usually – sarape blankets have fray at the ends; although the one I bought doesn’t. You can also buy small tablecloths made of the same fabric and colour schemes.
Sarape blankets are hand-woven on a loom. They’re well made and hold up pretty well over the years. I bought my sarape blanket when I was an exchange student in Mexico 15 years ago. To this day, it’s still in great shape; it sits in our living room where me, my husband and daughters use it as a comfy throw.
They’re lightweight, and not overly heavy which makes them easy to bring back.
I’ve seen many variations of sarape blankets in markets (the best place to get them, as you’re buying it directly from the artisan) but there are also some at the airport, and souvenir shops, and online.
2. Authentic Mexican silver
Mexico is the number one producer of silver in the world. A city called Taxco, which is south of Mexico City, is considered to be the silver capital of the world.
You can find silver jewelry, silver pots, utensils, decor and other items made of silver from Taxco.
Although Taxco is a beautiful city that I’d recommend seeing, you don’t have to go there to buy authentic Mexican silver products.
Authentic Mexican silver products can be found at stores and markets around the country, the airport, and even from vendors on the street, or the beach.
When buying silver in Mexico, make sure that it’s real silver and not fake. Signs that it’s real silver:
- It has marks that say 925 or 950, 925 stands for 9.25% which means it’s sterling silver. 950 stands for 95.0 which is pure silver.
- It has a stamp that says MEX or MEXICO
In addition to silver products, you can also buy authentic Mexican silver coins from the bank (It’s hit and miss whether they have them available.) You can see examples of Mexican coins here.
Pro Tip: Taxco is generally safe, although there have been some safety concerns in the surrounding state. You can buy Taxco silver online too – Nueve Sterling sells jewelry made from silver from Taxco.
3. Mi Casa es Su Casa sign
Most people have heard the phrase “mi casa es su casa,” but did you know that it is said to be coined in Mexico?
If you’ve known any Mexicans personally, you know that they’re warm and welcoming, extremely friendly. This phrase fits the country’s personality perfectly and has served as a great reminder of my time living in Mexico.
I bought this beautiful handpainted ceramic sign from a street vendor in Mexico City. But you can find many different kinds of signs with variations of material, designs and colours.
4. Handmade crafts by local artisans
When walking along the beaches, through the towns, and markets, you’ll see lots of vendors selling unique, funky and creative crafts.
There will be jewelry, bookmarks, and clothing. Many items are made out of re-purposed materials and made by artisans; small family businesses.
Above are a few things that I bought from local crafters:
- a purse made out of Mexican candy wrappers. (Its actually very well made and has held up over the years.)
- Purses and jewelry made entirely out of pop-cans tabs.
These kinds of crafts are found at markets, or street vendors who have them laid out on a blanket on the side of the street.
5. Tortillas
One really easy (and useful) souvenir to bring back from Mexico is tortillas. Mexican tortillas are made with either wheat or corn flour, and can be used to make quesadillas, or tortilla chips.
Corn tortillas are called tortilla de maíz, and wheat ones tortilla de trigo.
I brought back a few bags of both; they’re fairly easy to pack, and there’s no issues bringing them into the country. They’re also easy to find – you can find them in a Mexican grocery store.
6. A maria or lele doll (muñecas de maria)
Another very special souvenir from Mexico is a lele doll, or a maria doll. The two are technically different things, but very similar. You can read about their history here.
You’re looking for a cloth-made doll that is sitting upright; they have black hair almost always in braids that are interwoven with ribbon, and wear bright, colourful clothing, with a decoration of colourful ribbons crowning their head.
I’m not someone who normally keeps dolls, but I find these Mexican dolls stunning. They make special souvenirs or gifts for someone else. I bought a few back as gifts for my cousin’s children and as a keepsake for myself.
You can find them in markets almost anywhere in Mexico, including some handmade ones online. Each one is unique, so if you see a colour you really like – grab it.
7. Cajeta
Cajeta (pronounced “cah-heh-tah”) is a Mexican dessert syrup and a staple in Mexican households. It has a thick, creamy consistency and tastes like caramel.
It can be poured on crepes or pancakes like maple syrup,
Cajeta originates from the city of Celaya in northern Mexico, but you can find it around the country. Cajeta is sold in Dulcerías (sweet shops) and in Mexican grocery stores.
If you have trouble finding cajeta in person, it can also be found it online.
FYI:The word “cajeta” is a risque word in Argentinian Spanish
8. Mexican spirits
Mexico is known for its spirits; the most famous being tequila. If you like spirits, you also have a few other options in Mexico besides tequila.
Here are some of the most prominent and popular alcohols to look for in Mexico:
- Mezcal – made from agave, and most of it comes from Oaxaca
- Tequila – technically, tequila is a type of mezcal. Its made from the blue agave plant, and originates in northern Mexico
- Xtabentún liquor – a Mayan liquor from the Yucatan region made from honey
These are a few examples, but you can see a longer list here. you can find alcohols and spirits duty-free at the airport, and at Mexican grocery stores (most of them sell booze.)
9. Mexican cheese
Mexico isn’t as widely known for its cheese as France is, but it has so many different types of cheese. Which makes sense, with cheese being such a big part of their cuisine.
Here are few of the different types of Mexican cheeses:
- Queso fresco or its aged version – queso añejo
- Queso Oaxaca (from the city of Oaxaca)
- Queso Manchego
- Queso Chihuahua (same name as the dog, as it originates from the same area)
- Monterrey Jack
You can read about their flavours and what they can be used to make here.
Oaxaca cheese was easily my favourite of the Mexican cheeses; it reminded me of cheese string. I brought a few balls of it back home.
You can find Mexican cheeses in grocery stores, and at at markets. There are sometimes rules about bringing dairy into certain countries, so double-check what you’re allowed to bring home.
10. Queso flavoured Ruffles
If you like chips (specifically, Ruffles) they have a flavour in Mexico that you can’t get elsewhere – the queso flavour. It comes in a bright green bag, and you can find it in Mexican grocery stores, or convenience stores.
Queso ruffles have a very cheesy taste, with a mild Mexican-flavoured spice. You can see
11. Traditional embroidered shirt
In Mexican markets and souvenir stores, you will see you see these white embroidered shirts.
These shirts are called huipil, and it’s the traditional dress of Mayan women from Mexico and other parts of Central America. It’s usually worn for special occasions and ceremonies; not an everyday outfit.
Mostly, they’re made for women but I bought a small cute child’s size for my daughter and it is adorable.
You will see these everywhere. I recommend trying to grab it from the artisan directly if you can, it supports small businesses and families.
12. A bottle of pure vanilla, or vanilla beans
Mexico is one of the largest producers of vanilla in the world. Mexican vanilla beans grow in Veracruz, which is in the Gulf of Mexico – specifically, the city of Papantla.
Papantla is far from where most tourists in Mexico venture, but luckily you don’t have to head there to find Mexican vanilla.
Here’s what you need to know about the different types of vanilla:
- pure Mexican vanilla – usually has at least 35% alcohol. It’s most used for baking (which burns off the alcohol in the process.)
- traditional Mexican vanilla, which has a lower alcohol content.
At the airport, you might find a bottle of Villa Vanilla Elixr which comes from Pampetla – they make both traditional and pure types. The brand has a website you can buy from too.
Armando’s Mexican Natural Vanilla is another good one.
13. Team Mexico jersey
Soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico; with that comes sports souvenirs like jerseys, soccer balls, and other sports paraphilia.
It’s pretty common to find belts, and scarves, such as these ones. they make a great souvenir for someone who likes sports or Mexico in general.
14. Ate (to make ate con queso)
Ate con queso is a Mexican dessert that my Mexican friend introduced me to. The queso part is the cheese. But the ‘ate’ is the part I’m recommending you try (and bring home from Mexico, if you like it.)
Ate is a fruity-flavoured jelly, that you eat with the cheese. If you’ve ever tried charcuterie, you know that cheese with jelly can really complement each other.
There are different flavours of ate. You eat it with the queso, and they taste surprisingly good together.
Ate con queso is typically eaten on its own, but you could also add it to a charcuterie board.
Yiou can find the jelly paste in supermarkets. If worse comes to worst, you can also order it on Amazon.
15. Mexican cinnamon
Cinnamon is a huge part of Mexican cuisine. It’s the main flavour of churros, the popular pastry dessert. It’s sprinkled on top of horchata.
Now here’s the interesting thing – Mexico doesn’t grow its own cinnamon; it imports it en masse from Sri Lanka.
The cinnamon in Mexico is called ceylon cinnamon, because of Ceylon being the former name of Sri Lanka.
Ceylon cinnamon is one of the best in the world, and actually health benefits too. You can find it at Mexican grocery stores.
16. Pottery
Pottery has a long history in Mexico, going back. There are different types of pottery, and most of it is ceramic and colourfully painted.
You will see some souvenir-ish pottery, pictured above. But there’s also the more traditional artisan pottery.
Talavera pottery was introduced to Mexico by the Spaniards during the conquest in the 1500s. It’s often very bright and colourful, and often hand-painted in Puebla (a city south of Mexico city, and by far, one of the nicest cities to visit in the country)
And you can find ones that are microwave, oven, and dishwasher safe.
Oaxacan pottery – made with either barro negro (black clay) and barro rojo (red clay.) Barro means mud. Oaxacan pottery isn’t as colourful as talavera; it tends to have neutral colours. You can read about it and find some products here.
17. A molinillo
A molinillo means “whisk” in Spanish, and the traditional molinillo in Mexico is made of wood and its a tool that has been around for centuries.
The molinillo is typically used for making hot chocolate, but it can also be used for lattes, coffees, and other drinks.
You don’t use it like a regular wisk. Instead, you turn it between the palms of both hands. This youtube video shows how to use the Mexican molinillo.
You can find handcrafted molinillos in markets or online. Mi Amor Mexican store sells a really pretty one on their website.
18. Huichol beaded jewelry
Huichol jewelry is made by the Huichol and Wixáritari people, indigenous people from Western Mexico.
Huichol jewelry has small colourful beads, often in patterns and designs that ‘pop.’ You can get pretty much anything – earrings, necklaces, headbands, and chockers.
My personal favourite is a headband, it looks great as a headband and makes a great gift. A good friend from Mexico gave me a Huicho beaded headband as a gift, and I wear it often.
You can see examples and buy products here from the Huichol Handicrafts website.
19. Luche libre mask
Luche libre originated in Mexico in the early 1900s, and is known for the colourful masks that the wrestling contestants (called “luchadores”) wear.
Luchador masks come in so many different colours and styles. They’re meant to look ‘scary’ as that’s the goal of the wrestling rival.
A great place to buy them near them Arena México in Mexico City, which is where Lucha Lubre is held. (May be worth adding to your Mexico City itinerary if you love sports.) There’s a store called Deportes Martinez which sells good quality ones that typically cost around $20-$30 each.
Luchador masks can be hard to find if you aren’t making it to Mexico City. Deportes Martinez ships online on Amazon, however, and there’s also an El Salvadorian company that makes them.
20. Alebrijes sculptures
Alebrijes (pronounced ah-leh-bree-hez) are another Mexican invention that got some international attention from the Disney movie Coco. While the movie certainly shed light on them, it doesn’t go into a lot of detail of their history or meaning.
They are wooden figurines created by Diego Rivera and Frida Khalo in the early 1900s, and are painted with designs based on the artist’s imagination. They represent the mystisim and magic of Mexico.
Contrary to what the movie implies, alebrijes have nothing to do with Day of the Dead. They are an artistic form of expression,
Alebrijes were invented in Mexico City, and are mainly found there and in Oaxaca. You can see some more examples of homemade, artisan ones here.
21. Handmade guitars
Wooden handmade guitars are made in the city of Paracho, which is west of Mexico. It’s the guitar capital of Mexico.
The best way to get a real authentic one is directly from the luthier, or ensuring that wherever you bought it from is handcrafted by a certified luthier in Paracho.
A few known luthiers from the Paracho area:
22. Mexican spices
In a country whose cuisine is known for its unique flavours, what better souvenir than some of the traditional and staple spices that are used to create these flavours?
Mexican spices are especially a good souvenir for someone who likes Mexican food. You don’t have to use a lot of them at once, so they last a long time.
The spices to look for in Mexico are: achiote, allspice, coriander, coriander, cumin, or chilli powder.
The grocery store is the best place to find these flavour enhancing spices.
23. Mexican chocolate
Mexican chocolate is what most of us might call ‘dark’ chocolate, because it doesn’t contain dairy. Mexican chocolate is made purely with cacao, sugar and cinnamon.
Sometimes it also has unique flavours, like chilli or lavender, and has ingredients like nuts. It often comes in discs like the picture below, so you can easily break off pieces.
There are a few different brands of chocolate to look for while you’re in Mexico:
- Oaxacanita – 100% grown and made in Mexico.
- Taza – sources its beans outside Mexico but still uses the Mexican process of making chooclate.
24. Mexican coffee, or coffee beans
Coffee in Mexico is produced in the southern part of the country, where the climate supports the growth of the coffee beans.
If you’ve never tried a Mexican coffee – I recommend it! It’s strong tasting but has flavours of chocolate and cinnamon.
When buying Mexican coffees, look for ones that come from Chiappas, or Veracruz – those are the areas near where the coffee is produced.
25. Handblown Glassware
Did you know that Mexico was the first place in North America where glassware was made? It was brought over from Spain in the 1500s, and the same glass-blowing techniques are still used today.
Most of the glassware is transparent, but it has hints of colour. There’s confetti style, or sometimes glasses just have a colour around the rim. It’s really nice if you want something simple and basic, but a bit fun with some pops of colour.
See some examples and prices on the Direct from Mexico website here.
26. Jarritos
Jarritos are handmade clay mugs, and are often hand-painted. They’re often used for hot chocolate and coffee.
You will usually find these handpainted clay mugs in vendor markets. There’s a beautiful selection of them online at Guelquelza Designs.
Pro Tip: The word ‘jarritos’ shouldn’t be confused with the name of popular Mexican soda pop.
27. Hot sauce
when you go to most Mexican grocery stores, you’ll see a large extensive selection of hot sauces.
There are so many brands and flavours to choose from, that the choice can be overwhelming.
Most of the sauces are made for traditional Mexican foods like tacos and enchiladas, but you can also find ones that are good for adding a bit of a flavour or kick to your pizza, burgers or pasta.
Here are a few hot sauce brands to look for in Mexico (all of them come in many flavours):
- Goya – very popular, and cheap; comes in multiple flavours
- Tajin – makes a good chipotle sauce
- El Yucateco – one of the oldest brands, comes in a few different flavours
- Cholula – very common (you can find it in the US too)
- Valentina – very popular, and yummy. Makes sauces that you can add to hot dogs, tacos, pizza or pretty much anything
You likely can’t go wrong with any brands of Mexican hot sauce, but it comes down to a matter of preference. These names above should be enough to get you started.
28. Maracas
Maracas are a musical instrument, and popular throughout Central America. They’re a special souvenir from Costa Rica as well.
Maracas are brightly coloured, often made of wood and other eco-friendly materials and hand-painted. (Although its becoming more common to see them made of plastic and metal too.)
You can find maracas in markets and from street and beach vendors.
29. Cactus leaves
Also called Nopales, cactus leaves are grilled like other vegetables and can be added to a tortilla with cheese.
I brought back a few cactus leaves home to make them for my family and enjoy a taste of Mexico at home – they are quite good and have a bit of a tangy taste. Find health information and recipes to make with them here.
Cactus leaves are considered to be a plant, so just look into rules about bringing fresh plants home, or via air travel.
Other Things to Bring Back from Mexico
These are some other ideas which I don’t think are the best souvenirs from Mexico (because of problems bringing them home, or how useful they may be.) But I wanted to list them anyway
1. Prescription drugs
It’s a thing for people to buy drugs in Mexico, for a couple of reasons:
- They’re cheaper
- You don’t have to jump through the extra hoop of getting a prescription for them; they’re simply bought over the counter in Mexico
People bring back things like birth control pill, anti-anxiety medications, sleeping pills, and other items. You can read about it here
2. Day of the Dead souvenirs
I first discovered Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos) by celebrating it in Mexico. It was before the Disney movie Coco came out and it was amazing thing to witness and be apart of without having any knowledge of it.
The purpose of Dia de Muertos is to celebrate the memories and spirits of loved ones who have passed away. It didn’t become popular widespread until very recently (mostly because of the movie.)
It’s not really a ‘souvenir’ or gifting holiday, but there are special and unique Day of the Dead items that you can get.
- Calaverita (chocolate or skeletons) I saw many vendors selling themd
- Pan de Muerto – a special type of sweet bread, which is meant to be split up and shared.
3. A sombrero
A sombrero is an iconic symbol of Mexico, and you’ll see lots of them as souvenirs in shops, and at the airport.
I was hesitant to add it to the main list because they’re quite large and would be hard to fit in a suitcase. However,
4. Fridge magnets
I bring back fridge magnets from almost everywhere I go – including Mexico. You can usually find unique ones in museum gift shops. Another obvious place to look for them is the airport.
5. ‘Yo AMO’ T-shirts
Wherever you go in Mexico, especially if its a touristy area – you’ll see T-shirts with the I “heart” (place name) in Spanish. It will usually say “Yo” with a heart, and then the name of the place
These are very common in Mexico DF, where you can get T-shirts and other items that say “Yo amo DF” (DF stands for Distrito Federal.) Since I lived there, I have quite a few items that say that, and also found the shirts in Puerto Escondido pictured above.
6. Mexican music
Music isn’t something that you would ‘bring back’ physically, but I highly recommend checking out some Mexican artists on spotify. I was completely ignorant to Mexican artists and some of the current
- Belanova
- Julieta Venegas (my personal favourite – try her songs Canciones de Amor, Lento, Limón y Sal, and so many others)
- Alejandro Fernández Abarca
- Paulina Susana Rubio Dosamantes
Where to Look for Mexican Souvenirs
- Local markets – Markets (mercados) is where I bought the majority of my souvenirs in Mexico.
- Street or beach vendors – Street and beach vendors sell a lot of iconic Mexican items – handicraft, decorations, jewelry.
- Museums – Museum gift shops are a great place to look for unique souvenirs, especially related to history, geology and other topics that the museum covers
- Mexican grocery stores – Mexico has several grocery store chains, including independently owned “tiendas” (almost like a convenience store) where you can buy many of the grocery items from this list
- International Airports – Airports often carry products that have a large production scale, but you can still find a lot of the unique souvenir ideas that were mentioned in this article
Pro Tip: Planning your trip and deciding where in Mexico to go? Read my post on the safest places to visit in Mexico here
Mexican Souvenirs FAQ
Here are the most commonly asked questions about Mexican gifts and souvenirs
What is Mexico’s famous souvenir?
Mexico’s most famous souvenir is likely the sombrero. While sombreros are a unique and special gift, they can be awkward to bring home because of their size. There are many other iconic Mexican souvenirs that are hard to find elsewhere.
Is there a traditional gift in Mexico?
Mexicans typically give each other flowers, silver, ceramics, textiles, beaded or embroidered handicrafts as gifts. Edible gifts like chocolate and coffee are also given.
Final Thoughts
I hope you found this article helpful, and that you’re full of inspiration on all the amazing things there are to bring home from Mexico. It’s such a unique country with a colourful and vibrant culture, with amazing food, festivities and music. Many of its souvenirs embody the warm and vivacious personality of the country. Thank you for reading, and may your Mexican souvenirs bring back amazing memories for years to come!