Tax-free purchase
Before we talk about souvenirs, you should know that you can save up to 15% on purchases in over 1,000 stores displaying the Tax Refund logo. From a minimum of Rs. 2,300, any purchase in a store displaying the Tax Refund logo entitles you to reclaim VAT. All you need to do is ask the cashier for a receipt from Vat Paid Supplies to Visitors, and provide your passport number and return flight details. Once at the airport, before checking in your luggage, you must declare your purchases at the customs office located in the departure hall - MRA Customs. Once through immigration control, present your receipt at the MCCI Tax Refund counter and collect your refund in dollars, pounds sterling or euros. On the website: www.taxfreeshopping.mu, you'll find all the practical information you need about this refund, as well as a list of all stores offering tax-free shopping, including a list entitled "Maurice Créative".
The jewels
There's a real tradition of jewelry and goldsmithing in Mauritius: from luxury 22-carat gold jewelry (very pure gold, often found in India and Asia) made by leading houses, to unique creations by top local designers such as Ravior, to costume jewelry made from less noble but more original materials such as shells, wood or recycled plastics. Diamond-cutting is another specialty mastered by local jewellers, with particularly attractive prices for Europeans, notably at Adamas. Now's your chance to seal or celebrate love with a sparkling gift!
Model ships
This specific craft has been one of the island's jewels since the 1960s. At that time, the French Embassy, impressed by the skill of Mauritian wood craftsmen, decided to commission a cabinetmaker by the name of José Ramar to produce a model according to plan. Today, Mauritius is the world's leading manufacturer and exporter of model ships. The major companies are based in Floréal-Curepipe and Grand Baie, home to Historic Marine, the island's largest factory. Models of all styles can be found in all price ranges, up to 4,000 euros for certain models in teak or camphor. But you can buy a beautiful small-scale model for as little as 100 euros. Beware, however, that in addition to the initial price, larger models also include the cost of transporting this fragile and cumbersome souvenir. If you don't want to risk breakage, local companies are well versed in shipping.
Gourmet products
It's impossible to leave Mauritius without shopping for gourmet products. Among the must-haves: sugar, spices, vanilla, tea and rum (which will be the subject of a special paragraph), Takamaka lychee wines (the others are worthless). These products are sold all over the island: from supermarkets to local markets, which are always more authentic and pleasant to visit, but sometimes more expensive and less reliable about the origin of the products.
At the Village Boutik of the Musée de l'Aventure du Sucre in Beau Plan, you'll discover that there isn't just one cane sugar, but eleven exceptional unrefined sugars with surprising natural flavors: the special sugars.
As for spices, they're everywhere in the kitchen. Brightly colored, bewitchingly flavored, they're all over the market in bulk. Cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, chillies (especially Rodrigues chillies, which are readily available in Mauritius)... an assortment will add sunshine to your dishes.
When it comes to vanilla, pay attention to the origin and quality of the beans sold. Those from Madagascar are good, but it's better to buy local vanilla such as that from Saint Aubin.
The Tea Route links central and southern Mauritius, passing through Les Aubineaux, Bois Chéri and Saint Aubin, three estates where you can discover the secrets of Mauritian tea and taste the different flavours on offer. Other popular teas include those from local brand Corson.
Rum
When French people think of rum, they first think of the Antilles, then Réunion Island, but not necessarily Mauritius. And yet, the reputation of Mauritian rum, until now reserved for connoisseurs, is growing along with exports of this product, which has become of prime importance to the local economy. The history of rum in Mauritius began in the 19th century, when French and English colonists sought to diversify the use of sugar cane. It was in the early 2000s, thanks to a change in the law allowing distillation at lower alcohol levels and thus the production of more aromatic rums, that production took off. Today, 6 major distilleries produce traditional rum, agricultural rum and the famous arranged or spiced rums: Chamarel, Labourdonnais, Saint Aubin, Grays (New Grove brand), Oxenham and Medine (Penny Blue and Pink Pigeon brands). It's possible to visit and taste, in moderation of course. And for the more adventurous, some bars serve local rums that are higher in alcohol content and less aromatic..
Textile
Textile production has been one of the pillars of the Mauritian economy and remains a dynamic sector with a diversified offering. Colorful fabrics for the folk skirts of sega dancers, saris for traditional outfits, multicolored pareos, beachwear and surfwear, not forgetting the inevitable dodo T-shirt and, above all, more creative local brands such as The Kreol Republic or Habit, and you're all dressed up for summer!
Basketry
Basketry is a traditional ancestral activity in Mauritius and especially in Rodrigues, where it is particularly renowned. Anyone who hasn't bought a woven vacoas basket or hat in a bazaar has never set foot on these islands. Vacoas, an endemic plant with flexible, resistant leaves, has enabled women to weave the most beautiful objects at low cost. In Rodrigues, woven baskets are almost obligatory, as plastic is banned on the island.
