Gourmet basket
Certainly one of the most popular shopping categories. In Quebec, the maple tree is king, and many products are made from it. But beyond the lord of syrups, the province has acquired an excellent reputation in the cheese-making field, accumulating international awards and recognition over the years. There are also spices, aromatics and condiments made from edible forest products, jams and jellies from northern berries, Inuit herbal teas, smoked and marinated seafood products, and more.
Quebec is also becoming a master in the art of distillation, creating gins, vodkas and other delicious artisanal spirits. Then there are the more exotic beverages, such as bagosse (a local spirit from the Magdalen Islands), caribou (a blend of red wine, strong alcohol and aromatics), Sortilège (Canadian whisky and maple syrup) and all the other maple-based spirits, some of which are aged in oak barrels. Wine and cider, especially ice cider, are also on offer, as is craft beer, now ubiquitous in the province. The reputation of Quebec's brewers is well established, and they don't hesitate to incorporate the terroir into their tasty nectars.
To stock up on gourmet products made in Québec, visit local artisans, public markets or local boutiques. For beer, there are many specialized "dépanneurs", and you can often fill up directly at the brewery.
Fringes
With a world-famous national sport and a team that has won no fewer than 24 Stanley Cups, there's no need to mention that items bearing the effigy of the Montreal Canadiens field hockey team sell like hotcakes. In addition to the club's official boutiques, many sports stores sell Tricolore merchandise, as well as that of other professional teams from Montreal (Alouettes in soccer and CF Montreal in soccer), Canada and even the USA.
Field hockey means winter, and as Gilles Vigneault once sang, " Mon pays, ce n'est pas un pays, c'est l'hiver " (" My country, it's not a country, it's winter "). So why not take advantage of your stay in Canada to complete your winter wardrobe with mittens, tuques, scarves - especially if knitted locally - and other items to keep you warm? And in Quebec, there's no shortage of choice!
The Belle Province also boasts a number of internationally renowned designers. For haute couture, Denis Gagnon, Philippe Dubuc and Marie Saint Pierre are three must-haves. Young local labels are also worth discovering, such as Frank And Oak, which focuses on an all-purpose style with an eco-responsible approach, or the young MRKNTN (Markantoine) and its rather eclectic streewear made from recycled materials. While most of these designers are based in the greater Montreal area, a growing number are also to be found in small, friendly ateliers-boutiques.
Handicraft
Still very much alive today, this is the craft of a rural society that favors woodworking and metalwork to create utilitarian objects. It has since diversified to include other materials, notably recycled ones, to create decorative objects, jewelry and more. Also, from the earliest days of colonization, the need to protect oneself from the cold of winter contributed to the development of weaving and embroidery, for quilted bedspreads (an assembly of scraps of fabric in various colors, also known as patchwork), shawls, wool scarves, mittens, tuques and slippers.
Natives are also renowned for their traditional crafts, working with bone beads, stones, shells, animal hair and skins, porcupine quills, bark and wood - in short, anything found in nature. In Aboriginal communities and other specialized locations around the province, you can buy dreamcatchers, sinew snowshoes, jewelry, bags, suede or leather jackets, traditional clothing and accessories of all kinds, indoor and outdoor moccasins, works of art and more. There is also contemporary Inuit art, mainly represented by sculptures in soapstone, green serpentine, dolomite or quartz. Modern sculptures, which can reach impressive sizes, almost always depict the wildlife and people of the Far North. Inuit also practice caribou antler carving, stone engraving and embroidery. To protect Inuit artists from dealers, local cooperatives were formed in the 1960s, and since 1967 have been grouped under the Fédération des coopératives du Nouveau-Québec. The Brousseau Inuit Art Gallery, located in Quebec City, plays an important role in the quality marketing of Inuit art in Quebec.
Classical or folkloric souvenirs
Postcards, key-rings, magnets, stickers, posters, license plates, flags, t-shirts, caps, mugs, plates: the great classics bearing the effigy of the destination are always popular with visitors. Unfortunately, souvenir stores are often filled with items made in China, and are omnipresent in large cities and highly touristy destinations. Others may prefer something a little more folkloric, such as the famous arrow belt, or a musical instrument like a Jew's harp (known as a "ruine-babine" in Quebec) or wooden spoons.
Readings
If you like to read, we recommend several books: Le Garde-manger boréal by Jean-Luc Boulay and Arnaud Marchand, a collection of 80 seasonal recipes featuring the aromas of the boreal forest; Sur le pouce (165 des meilleurs casse-croûtes du Québec) by Benoît Roberge; Testé et approuvé : le Québec en plus de 100 expériences extraordinaires, a collective work for dreaming; Québec au Coeur by Jean-Pierre Doche and Bernard Personnaz, a tour of Quebec in 40 favorites; Paul à Montréal and Paul à Québec, comic strips by Michel Rabagliati that caused a sensation when they were published.
