Cocoa
Some of the world's finest cocoa comes from Trinidad & Tobago, but is often shipped abroad as raw material for many of the world's leading chocolatiers. These days, however, small local chocolatiers are offering excellent locally-made products to visitors, and the number of chocolatiers, often luxury ones, is booming. The "Trinitario" cocoa, endemic to Trinidad, for example, is used by leading European chocolatiers to produce vintage chocolates, made from cocoa from a single harvest - connoisseurs beware! The village of Gran Couva, in the center of Trinidad, is home to the island's oldest plantation, San Antonio estates, where the centuries-old Trinitario is still produced today. Take advantage of a visit to Gran Couva to learn more about this exceptional cocoa, produced in very small quantities, by contacting the Montserrat cooperative, which will advise you on visiting a plantation. In both Trinidad and Tobago, you'll find various plantations, most of which you can visit, and in Lopinot, at Café Mariposa, the owners, the Guerrero family, who produce their own chocolate, create dishes around it. A real delight and an excellent chocolate to take home in your luggage.
Clothes and fabrics
Fashion very often reveals the spirit of a country's inhabitants, and Trinidad & Tobago is no exception. House of Jaipur is a brand adored by West Indian women and now considered their own. Its collection of "ethnic-inspired resort wear", as designer Dhisha Moorjani calls it, is highly appreciated and sought-after throughout the region for its unique, colorful approach to casual glamour and elegance. Moorjani, a Trinidadian designer, takes pride in dressing women in these beautiful hand-embroidered and beaded pieces created by Indian artisans who excel in this traditional art. A little black dress by Meiling, a designer whose products are all made in Trinidad & Tobago, is also a must-have for any woman with good taste..
In order to satisfy the many inhabitants of Indian origin, itinerant trade fairs of Indian products have become frequent. Don't be surprised to find bargains in Indian clothing, textiles, jewelry and even furniture. There's something for every budget, and you'll save yourself a plane ticket to India!
Works of art
Both Trinidad and Tobago have art galleries that exhibit the best local artists, painters and photographers, and many exhibitions are held throughout the year. Expect a wide variety of prices and quality, but the best works are of an exceptional level, recognized worldwide. Local works are sometimes exhibited in fine restaurants such as the Pasta Gallery restaurant in Crown Point, whose owner is a well-known painter. If you like a piece of art during your visit, don't hesitate to ask for the author and the sales channel.
The jewels
If you're looking for a unique piece of local jewelry, you won't be disappointed, as many tribal artists work gold and gemstones to perfection. For those on a smaller budget who want to take home a beautiful piece of jewelry made locally from natural resources, we recommend Akilah's jewelry, whose designer Akilah Jaramogi produces sumptuous ecological jewelry using natural materials and seeds, and sells them at local exhibitions and in her small workshop/boutique on St Ann's Heights, Port of Spain. Please call before visiting.
Local music and instruments
If there's one musical instrument that symbolizes Trinidad & Tobago, it's undoubtedly the famous steelpan, originally made from metal barrels, the top part of which is cut off and then shaped to produce the unique music that sets the rhythm at carnivals. Miniature copies are on sale in all souvenir stores, but if you'd like to buy a real one, made in Tobago and of superior quality, don't hesitate to visit the MITTCO (Musical Instruments of Trinidad and Tobago Company) factory in Diego Martin, where the best in the country are produced. Be sure to allow for excess baggage, or have your instruments delivered directly to your permanent address. If you like music, you'll also find plenty of Calypso and Soca albums in most shopping malls. But Trinidad & Tobago's music is not limited to steelpan, and you can also enjoy local reggae and even some very good rock. Tribagonians live with and for music.
The alcohols
Rum lovers will be pleased, there are many small producers in addition to the two heavyweights of local (and imported) production that are Angostura and Fernandes and excellent bottles can be found in most shopping malls and of course in specialized stores called liquor shops. One of the most famous is undoubtedly the Angostura 1919 rum.
Hot Sauces and Chutneys
"Pepper?" is probably the question you'll hear most often when dining in the country, a way of asking whether you'd like hot sauce in your food. Trinidad & Tobago produces a wide range of chillies, from the very mild to the extremely hot, such as the famous "Scorpion pepper", which was for a long time the hottest in the world, scoring over 1,400,000 units on the Scoville scale. It was only dethroned in 2013 by Carolina Ripper, a hybrid developed in the USA. Many artisans produce exceptionally tasty sauces from the different strains of pepper available in the country, so watch out for your taste buds!
Where to find local crafts
If you are lucky enough to be in Trinidad during Carnival, you can simply go to the outskirts of Savannah, which has been transformed into a gigantic gallery of local handicrafts, but if not, you will come across many stores, often on the side of the road, where artisans offer you their creations. It is certainly more fun to bargain in these places than to bring back souvenirs from the airport, and bargaining is easier.
