From embroidery
Embroidery was introduced to the archipelago by the English in the mid-19th century. Since 1856, this activity has kept thousands of women busy all over the island. At the time, powdery mildew was ravaging the vineyards, so the population quickly felt the economic repercussions. To alleviate these difficulties, an Englishwoman named Miss Phelps had the idea of teaching this art to the women of Madeira. The island's women began to play with needles and looms for wealthy merchants, who supplied them with patterns, fabrics, threads and needles. These merchants paid the workers derisory sums for the tablecloths, which sometimes fetched a fortune. Even today, you'll still find these craftswomen in the tiny villages of the south coast, but it's hard to buy anything directly from them. In Funchal, however, you can visit finishing workshops and splendid boutiques, as well as the famous Madeira Embroidery Museum, where you can purchase beautiful traditional tablecloths, handkerchiefs, sheets, dresses and shirts... Unique pieces! The materials used are mainly linen, silk, cotton and organza.
Basketry
Another traditional production of the island, basketry has supplied the local market since 1850 and is also exported. Wicker grows in moist areas, mainly in the valley bottoms of the north coast. The strands are collected and boiled in large, blackened rectangular tubs over a wood fire before being debarked. Sometimes worked on the spot, the wicker is most often transported in overloaded vans in sheaves to the workshops which are mainly concentrated around Camacha, a charming little village on the south coast of Madeira. The inhabitants of the interior continue to make all sorts of objects that are useful for their work and not for sale (the famous Monte wicker sleds come to mind). Only professional basket-makers produce decorative items, such as the wide-edged hood (traditionally carried balanced on the shoulder and used for harvesting and construction work). While it is possible to buy wickerwork anywhere in Funchal, especially in the Mercado dos Lavradores, our preference is to go to the producers' cooperative where you will find baskets, suitcases and all kinds of wicker furniture (in Camacha).
Madeira wine
If Madeira has its craftsmen, it also has its farmers, and even more, its winegrowers. Wine production is greatly facilitated by the mineral richness of the island's volcanic soils, as well as by a climate conducive to vine-growing. With a variety of grape varieties imported from all over the world, the diversity of wine production is impressive: sercial (dry), verdelho (semi-dry), boal (semi-sweet), malvasia (sweet) and tinta negra (dry, semi-dry, semi-sweet and sweet). These sweet wines can be enjoyed as table wines, aperitifs or digestifs. It's possible to buy a few bottles directly from some of the island's wineries, but the majority of wineries and stores are located in Funchal.
Exotic flowers
Orchids, proteas, anthuriums and strelitzias are among the favourite plants of visitors. Depending on the variety chosen, seeds and bulbs can be found directly at the island's florists or, again, at Funchal's municipal market, the Mercado dos Lavradores, where Madeira women make beautiful bouquets. Finally, in case you forget, don't panic, you can buy seeds directly at the airport (certainly not at the best price...).
Honey and chocolate cake
Gourmets will be able to take home some traditional sweet treats such as bolo de mel, a honey cake reminiscent of gingerbread (with subtly caramelized cane sugar) topped with candied fruit. Finally, let's not forget chocolate, which the Madeirans skilfully combine with various local flavours such as passion fruit or banana, bolo de mel or Madeira wine... These products can be found in every bakery and even in the island's souvenir stores and supermarkets.
