Dreaming of beaches this winter season? Want to escape to the warm climes? Well, Mauritius may likely be your answer.
Mauritius is an island renowned for its beaches, reefs and lagoons as well as its abundance of mountains, rain forests, waterfalls and wildlife. Situated in the Indian ocean this island’s temperature ranges from 19 to 28 Degree Celsius throughout the year, and the best time to visit is from May to December when the weather is cool and sunny.
Aside from its natural endowments, Mauritius will give every Muslim traveler a souvenir and gift shopping experience like no other! With its unique a local spice, sugar, tea and handicraft products, Mauritius is a souvenir shopping paradise offering a range of traditional and local gift items for you to take home as the ultimate souvenir.
Here is a list of the best Halal souvenir and gift items with a guide to where to shop for them. Don’t forget to bargain when you shop and look around before you make your final purchase.
Top souvenirs from other countries
Picture: Royal Palm Mauritius
The Dodo was a native bird to Mauritius. Although now extinct, the country still celebrates the uniqueness of the Dodo bird by offering tourists a range of Dodo souvenirs such as stuffed toys, key chains, magnets, ornaments and whatnot.
Also available are Dodo print t-shirts, caps, bags, mugs, and the famous flip-flops. The Dodo souvenirs range in price depending on what you buy and the shops and stores in Mauritius you buy it from.
If you become a little Dodo crazy while in Mauritian take in the Dodo Museum and learn all about these flightless birds that existed before the 17th century.
Picture: Easyvoyage
A very fascinating souvenir are the model ships made from wood and the famed shipwreck bottles that are a dedication to a bygone era of shipwrecks in Mauritius. Mainly handmade, these wood-based models are a lovey and unique souvenir to take home for your living room or as a gift to your parents.
Picture: Air Mauritius Blog
Over the years, the textile industry in Mauritius has become quite famous for its quality products, making clothing products one of the best gifts from Mauritius. So, while there get yourself a Pareo made from quality textile with local prints and all colors.
This sarong will make you stand out once you go home or make a perfect yet cheap gift for your friends who dream of visiting the beach. Another popular clothing item for gifting is scarves. Mauritius scarves come in many different colors and prints, making it a very nice and affordable gift for friends and family.
Note, the best place for textile shopping is the Quarter Bornes Textile Market. So, if you are in the vicinity of the town of Quatre Bornes, don’t miss out on an opportunity to visit this market!
Picture: MusicInAfrica
If you are a music lover and enjoy all varieties of music, then buy yourself a CD of the best traditional music known as ‘Sega’ from any music shop. This also makes a very inexpensive gift for friends and allows you to take home a little bit of your holiday.
Picture: Bois Cheri Tea
While you can get many flavored teas in Mauritius, the Bois Cheri Tea is a favorite, especially its vanilla flavor. Therefore, this brand of tea is available everywhere. If interested, you can even visit the Bois Cheri Tea Estate and take a tour of their tea plantations and factory.
Picture: Air Mauritius
If you have a sweet tooth, this sweet treat is the perfect take-home souvenir from Mauritius. Napolitaines are shortbread cookies filled with jam and are available at all bakery shops throughout the country.
Tip: Some bakers add rum to these biscuits, so check before you eat or buy this sweet goodie.
Mauritian jams made from homegrown tropical fruits is another gift and souvenir option to consider. These jams are locally manufactured from fruits such as bananas, passion fruit, pineapples and even guava. So, taking home such a gift is akin to taking home a taste of Mauritius. Locally made jams should be available at any grocery store or supermarket. Just double check to ensure it's Halal.
There is an abundance of shopping options where finding your perfect souvenir and gift item will become a pleasure. Whichever part of the island you visit, you can be sure to find a range of shopping malls and centres as well as the traditional local markets. Here are a few choice shops and markets to visit.
Address: Royal Road, Stall 22, Bazar De Grand Baie, Grand Baie, Mauritius
Contact: +230 5250 2068
Operating Hours: 9AM to 5PM (Daily)
Address: Baie Malgache, Port Mathurin, Mauritius R4304
Contact: +230 440 2580
Address: Dias Pier, Le Caudan Waterfront, Port Louis, Mauritius
Website: www.cottons.mu
Address: Marina Quay, Caudan, Port Louis, Mauritius
Contact: +230 211 9500
Opening Hours: 9AM to 5PM (Monday to Saturday)
Address: Vacoas-Phoenix, Mauritius
Contact: +230 696 9042
Opening Hours: 8.15AM to 5PM (Monday to Friday)
8.15AM to 4.30PM (Saturday)
Address: Next to Central Bus Station, Goodlands, Mauritius
Address: Racket Road, Grand Baie, Mauritius|
Tel: +230 263 1821
Times: Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 6 pm
Address: Floreal Road, Floreal, Curepipe, Mauritius
Tel: +230 684 2999
Times: 9AM to 5PM (Mon-Sat)
9AM to 12PM (Sun)
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Sakina has over 20 years of experience in the field of corporate communications; having worked for a leading Annual Report Production House dealing with top corporates of Sri Lanka and overseas, and later as the Group Communications Specialist for a Sri Lankan conglomerate for their overseas plantations business. She is well-versed in the production process of annual reports, sustainability reports, corporate videos and other corporate communication media. She also has experience in Social Media Marketing and works to increase and improve social media presence of corporates and small niche market businesses. Today, she works as a freelance writer and undertakes consultations on corporate communications and social media related projects. She enjoys writing for blogs on topics of interest.
