Souvenirs from Malta. What to bring from Malta. Best places to shop

Not far from Valleta is the village of Ta 'Kali, well known for having a national stadium in it. A “craft town” has been set up on the site of the military airfield since World War II — old Nissen huts are converted into shops selling a variety of products, some of which you will not find anywhere else in Malta. Gorodok is located in the same area as the national stadium, national park and national aviation museum. Here you can see artisans at work creating unique artifacts, whether it be blown glass, metal structures, lace, fabrics, ceramics, jewelry, furniture ... The list of traditional specialties is quite large.

Fine souvenirs and gifts discounts can be found on the market in Marsaxlokk (it works every day, includes the famous Sunday fish market). Household items, lace sold at the stalls self made, knitted tablecloths, branded T-shirts, clothes, toys, classic trinkets, scented candles and other home accessories. The market in Marsaxlokka is a famous attraction and is indicated in many guidebooks, respectively, attracts many tourists and local residents. It is very interesting not only because it sells a lot of useful goods, tasty products (honey, fruit jams, wine, vegetables), but also the atmosphere itself - people come here to chat. After a pleasant shopping, you can dine at one of the many seafood restaurants located everywhere in the picturesque bay of Marsaxlokka.

Sunday Market Valletta- Another popular landmark that attracts tourists from all over Malta and from other countries. What an interested visitor will not find here ... but, perhaps, handicrafts and antiques will turn out to be the most attractive for him.

The high reputation of Maltese jewelers is known throughout the world. Filigree gold and silver products are often exported to major cities in other countries of the world. It can not but rejoice that everyone in Malta can buy a product they like - brooches, bracelets, earrings ... Prices are affordable, designed for people with different budgetary opportunities. All products are certified by the Maltese government.

Yet maltese gifts - vases, statuettes of blown glass, curving lines, inspired by the blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, brown hills with olive groves, bright wild-growing flowers. Tourists have the opportunity to visit glass-blowing workshops to see how wonderful objects are created from scratch, in particular in Ta Cali, but the products are easy to find in specialized stores located throughout Malta or Gozo.

Famous Maltese craft brand Heritage homes and artistorikaworking for more than a decade and having an award World Organization intellectual property, produces a wide range of souvenirs and gifts for tourist market. These are collections of miniatures of architectural landmarks of the Maltese archipelago (from a rustic rural house to the decoratively majestic Royal Opera House in Valletta), products inspired by motifs, decorations, and designs characteristic of Maltese history. Most of them are made of artificial Maltese stone.

Malta: a story about the features of tourism and recreation. Useful Malta information for the traveler.

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Wine / Wine / Inbid

In Malta, grape varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Moscato, Syrah and some others are grown. Local varieties are Gellewza [Gelleuza] and Girghentina [Girgentina]. If on the label you see the name of the islands (MALTA or GOZO) and the abbreviation D.O.K. (Denominazzjoni ta ’Origini Kontrollata), this means that this wine was made from grapes grown in Malta or Gozo.

There are two leading wineries - "Delicata" (Delicata) and "Marsovin" (Marsovin). Each of them has an official website on which their products are presented. We mention only a few varieties that the Maltese usually drink at home and which are often found in restaurant menus.

At dinner, usually served cheap table wines: Lachryma Vitis [Lacrima Vitis], Special Reserve [Special Reserve], Vigne d’Or [Vin d’Or]. In the wine lists of restaurants in the Local Wines section, Dolcino [Dolcino], Red / Green Label [Red / Green Label], La Vallette [La Vallett], Verdala [Verdala] are most often found. As for the wines, which are considered expensive here and which can be brought to someone as a gift, these are Antonin [Antonin], Gran Cavalier [Gran Cavalier], Marnisi [Marnisi], Cheval Franc [Cheval Frank], Grand Vin de Hauteville [ Gran Vin de Hoteville] et al.

Beer / Beer / Birra [birra]

"National Maltese beer" - Сisk [Chisk] (light). Other varieties are Blue Label [Blue Label] and Lacto [Lacto] (dark). By the way, in the latter you can stew a rabbit, octopus, snails. Anyone who wants to indulge in a light variety, buys Shandy [Shandy] - beer in half with lemonade. All this is made by the Farsons company (Farsons).

Another local variety that deserves attention is the “1565” from Lowenbrau Malta. The name is the date of the Great Siege of Malta, in which the islanders and knights-joannites, led by Grand Master La Valletta, defeated the Turks.

  • Where can I buy: grocery store or a supermarket, a souvenir shop.

Liquors

  • Anisette [Aniset] - a strong drink from the seeds of anise, which the Maltese like to add to coffee in the winter;
  • Limuncell [Limonchel] - lemon;
  • Laring [orange] - orange;
  • Mandolin [Mandolin] mandarin (the fruits of their production are grown in Gozo);
  • Ghasel [Asel] - honey;
  • Rummiena [Rummina] - pomegranate;
  • arruba [Harruba] - ceratonium;
  • ajtra [Baytra] - prickly pear.
  • Where to buy: grocery store or supermarket, souvenir shop.

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Kinnie

Kinney is a non-alcoholic drink with the taste of bitter oranges and herbs, made only in Malta. Perfectly quenches thirst. Recently, Farsons also launched the Kinnie Zest - it tastes more orange than the regular Kinnie.

Goat cheese / Gobniet [JbaynIt]

There are three types of local goat milk cheese - soft (frisk [frisk]), without pepper (abjad [abyad]) and pepper (tal-bzar [tal-bzar]). “Frisk” can be smeared on bread instead of butter and sprinkled with salt and pepper, but the other two hard varieties are a great appetizer for wine. They can also be chopped into a fresh vegetable salad and pizza. “Dzhebinit” should be stored completely immersed in oil (otherwise moldy), where you can add a few drops of wine vinegar.

Sun dried tomatoes / Tadam imqadded [TadAm Im’Added]

These are oval-shaped halves of tomatoes, which are abundantly sprinkled with sea salt and ground black pepper, and then exposed for several days under the hot rays of the summer sun. They are sold both by weight and in jars of oil and bay leaves. Sun-dried tomatoes add a spicy flavor to summer salads and fish, and they can also be added to rich vegetable soups.

  • Where to buy: grocery store or supermarket, green shop.

Honey / Honey / Ghasel [Asel]

Maltese honey is easy to obtain in almost any store, as well as environmental organizations (Nature Trust, Gaia foundation). In addition, an ad like “Honey is being sold here” may catch your eye. Do not be shy, go to the beekeepers - for the most part they are very hospitable people, they will not only sell their goods to you, but will also tell you about their hard work, or even treat you with a glass of mead!

  • Where to buy: grocery store or supermarket, green shop, environmental organization, farms / private houses.

Olive oil / Zeit taz-zebbuga [Zeit taz-zebbUja]

The taste of local olive oil differs from the Spanish and Italian varieties that we used to buy in stores - it is refreshing and sweet. Now, only true enthusiasts are engaged in this industry (for example, the Ta ’Zeppi project, whose small plantation is located in the south of Malta in the town of Favvara).

  • Where to buy: grocery store or supermarket, green shop.

Caper / Caper / Kappar [Kappar]

Buds of caper bushes is a spice very popular in the Mediterranean. The capers taste sour and salty (in Malta they are stored in white vinegar, and in Sicily, for example, they are simply sprinkled with salt) and are well suited to fish dishes and summer salads.

Ceratonia Pod Syrup / Carob syrop / Ghasel tal-harrub [Asel Tal-Harrub]

Syrup is prepared from the pods of ceratonia, which is added to tea or coffee in the cold months, they also treat a mild cold.

  • Where to buy: grocery store or supermarket, green shop, market.

Sea salt / Melh naturali tal-bahar [Melch natalAli tal-bahar]

Coarse sea salt is evaporated from sea water in special salt pits, which are found on almost all the low rocky coasts of Malta and Gozo.

  • Where to buy: grocery store or supermarket.

The shops Malta open from 9:00 to 19:00, on Saturdays - until 20:00, from mandatory siesta in the middle of the day for 3-4 hours. In busy tourist centers, some shops are open without lunch breaks. More recently (in the spring of this year) trading on Sundays and holidays. On the archipelago (apparently due to the increased tourist flow) more and more often you can find shops working 7 days a week from early morning until late evening.

I would advise buying Italian Chianti in beautiful braided bottles, € 5.99 in supermarkets. Limoncello is also an option, as is olive oil. At Marks and Spencer you can take coffee in beautiful packaging and chocolate, as well as real British fudge.

Glass products in Pacheville or St. Julian's, like Venetian blown colored glass.

Gin will be picked up at Luqa Airport upon departure.

First of all, in the country a huge quantity souvenir benches and jewelry shops, where many tourists rush after exploring the main attractions of Malta. There are large department stores, interesting stores of home goods and interior items. In Valletta lot shoe stores and shop children’s goods.

I bought a woman friend as a present very beautiful gold earrings in the shape of a Maltese cross with diamonds. Itself is extremely cheap, profitable, since it cost some € 108.

Paradise for shopping considered a town Sliema. The main stores there are located on St. Anne Square (Diesel, Morgan, Mothercare), on Tower Street (Zara, Marks & Spencer, BHS, Dorothy Perkins, Ecco, Geox, Clarks, Bortex, Topshop ), on Tigne Street (The Point shopping center), on Bizazza Street (Monsoon, Accessorize, Plaza shopping center).

Of supermarkets on the Malta worth mentioning Arkadia (Paceville), Pavi (Qormi), Tower Supermarket (Sliema).

MALTA SHOPPING CENTERS

Bay street complex
The Plaza Shopping Center
Arkadia Shopping Mall
The point

SOUVENIRS FROM MALTA

Set souvenirsbrought by tourists from Malta, differs from souvenirs from other countries only by the inscription - Malta. These are standard plates, magnets, circles, ashtrays, t-shirts. In addition to the inscription, souvenirs from the archipelago can be marked with a replicated image of Maltese buses, considered a local symbol.

Edible spectrum souvenirs more diverse. So, in addition to local wine and “Kinney”, first of all, tourists bring home the Ġbejniet goat cheese, which is produced by long drying in the wind and the sun. There are three types of cheese - soft (frisk), without pepper (abjad) and with pepper (tal-bżar). This cheese is considered an excellent appetizer for wines. The cost is about 6 euros / kg.

Shopping in Malta

In demand with tourists maltese sun-dried tomatoes, or Tadam im’Added (Tadam imqadded) - dried halves of tomatoes, sprinkled nautical salt and spices. They are used in the preparation of fish dishes, salads and soups.

Another national maltese product - honey, or Asel (Għasel), beekeeping is very common on the archipelago. True, apiaries are located in the rocks and distinguish from the usual for us - they are in caves.

You can buy: - a large assortment of souvenirs;
- lace products. For example, I bought a very beautiful handmade tablecloth and table napkins; - Maltese cactus liquor; - clothes (there are also big discounts); - silver (very beautiful, openwork weaving is typical for Malta); - all kinds of glass products; - and much more.

Can cost honey - near 6 euros.

Is worth to try, and if you like it, bring home sweet fruit syrup ceratonia (Carob syrop, Għasel tal-ħarrub) - bread or carob tree, also called "John's bread tree", growing in abundance on the islands archipelago. Syrup from the fruits of ceratonia is usually added to coffee and tea, as well as taken for medicinal purposes - as cold facilities.

Well, and probably the most budgetary and at the same time, a very useful souvenir is packaging with local sea salt, which is used in both cosmetic and food the purposes. Salt pits in which salt is evaporated are abundant throughout maltese coast the islands.

The famous Maltese cross, which at one time was a sign of the mighty knightly order of the Johannite hospitals. In the souvenir shops of Malta, you can find a huge assortment of these crosses from a variety of materials. But, the most popular among a large number of tourists are gold and silver crosses, which are inlaid with stones. Their cost is quite inexpensive, that is, 5-7 US dollars worth a small gold cross, and a silver cross - three American dollars.

Maltese wines are very popular among tourists from all over the world due to their excellent aromas and tastes. The most famous brands among Maltese wines are considered Camilleri and Marsovin. You can buy these wines at every wine shop or supermarket in Malta.

Local Kinnie Herb Carbonated Soft Drink. A drink is made from a variety of red Sicilian orange chinotto (kinotto), and eighteen herbs, distinguished by their aroma in the Mediterranean. The unusual bittersweet taste of the Kinnie drink made it the most popular non-alcoholic drink not only in Malta, but throughout Southern Europe.

Maltese (Mdina) glass (Mdina glass) is presented in the form of a vase, an ashtray, a glass, a glass, a large dish. Basically, products from this glass are expensive, because they are made only by hand. Cheaper they can be purchased at Merchant street, there you can buy other famous brands, for example, products from the Phoenician glass (Phoenician glass blowers), mtarfa glass (Mtarfa glass blowers), glass Valleta (Valleta glass).

Homemade cheese "Dzhbeyna" ("Gbejna") is considered to be a cross between the Georgian suluguni and ordinary cheese. It is sold in the form of circles, and in special pots. The most popular cheeses are made by the dairy company Benna. You can buy ‘Jbane’ cheese in any supermarket, because the price here is much cheaper.

Famous Maltese honey is best bought from the plantation of Nature Trust Malta. Firstly, absolutely all types of Malta's flora are collected on the territory of these plantations, so honey becomes very fragrant. Secondly, in this way, there will be a guarantee that natural honey is purchased, and not fake.

The most popular Maltese liquors are Anisette, which is made only in Malta itself. As well as liquor from ripe fruit of prickly pear ("Bajtra"), honey liquor ("Ghasel"); pomegranate liquor ("Rummiena"); herb liqueur (Madliena); Gozitan lemon liquor (“Limuncell”); Gozitan Orange Liqueur (“Laring”).

Figurine of the Grand Master of the Order of the Johannites, is considered one of the mascots of Malta. It is made with limited amount, and has the appearance of a toy from the Playmobil designer exclusively in Malta. Such a figure is sold in souvenir shops.

Hand-knitted sheepskin sweaters. In appearance they look rather rough and have a folk-primitive pattern, but they are durable, and in these sweaters it is very warm in the winter. You can find these sweaters only in the street markets and in the streets of Gozo itself, which is considered the second island that is part of the Republic of Malta itself, or in the town of Sliema in tourist shops. The price of this sweater is approximately 30-40 US dollars.

Shopping in Malta is an incomparable pleasure. Local markets and shops offer a wide variety of products - literally for every taste, color and size. The most popular gifts brought from this country are handmade lace (traditional craft of Gozo Island), filigree jewelry, glass jewelry, brass knockers for entrance doors, woven carpets and blinds.

Not far from Valletta is the village of Ta "Cali, popular for having a national stadium on its territory. Here, on the very spot where the military airfield was located during the Second World War, the Craft Town is now open. It has been converted into old barracks in shops selling a wide variety of goods. Only such goods can not be found anywhere else in Malta. Before your eyes, local artisans are doing their usual business - blowing glass, weaving lace, making jewelry, various metal structures, furniture, ceramics, etc.

Great souvenirs and gifts can be purchased at a decent discount on the market in Marsaxlokka. Here you can find knitted tablecloths, handmade lace, scented candles, classic trinkets and other goods needed in home life.

Another place to shop for souvenirs in Malta is the Valletta Sunday Market. In addition to traditional and popular souvenirs, you can purchase antiques and handmade products here. Typical Maltese souvenirs include magnets, standard plates, ashtrays, mugs and T-shirts. In addition to inscriptions on them, Maltese buses, which are considered a local symbol, can be depicted.

From edible souvenirs, tourists usually prefer goat cheese - Dzhebinit. It is produced by prolonged drying in the sun. There are three types of cheese - soft, with pepper and without pepper. Great appetizer for wines.

Maltese sun-dried tomatoes are also very popular among tourists - TadAm im’Added. These are half-cut tomatoes, sprinkled with spices, sea salt and dried. Commonly used for cooking various soups, salads and fish dishes.

Another popular Maltese product is honey - Assel. I must say that beekeeping is very developed on the archipelago. True, local beekeeping has a significant difference - apiaries are located in caves inside the rocks.

You can also try, and if you want to bring along, a sweet syrup made from the fruits of ceratonia. This is the name of the bread or carob tree. It grows in large quantities in Malta. As a rule, it is added to tea or coffee, and also taken for colds.

Often from Malta they bring the most budgetary (but also very useful) souvenir - local sea salt. It can be used for both food and cosmetic purposes. Salt pits are located along all the coasts of the Maltese islands, in which, in fact, salt is evaporated.

There are some quite unusual souvenirs that can be brought from Malta. Since this state is an island, navigation has long played a significant role in his life. And the Maltese knights, as we know from history, were excellent sailors. Therefore, from here you can bring a model of an old sailing boat or fishing boat. Models of old Maltese buses are also popular.

Very unusual Maltese souvenirs are door handles. On the island, as they say, you will not find two identical door handles. In any shop you will be offered a choice of at least 30 pieces. In particular, tourists prefer pens decorated with dolphins. This animal is also considered a symbol of the island.

A very peculiar souvenir will be Maltese chess. Unlike chess made in other countries, in them figures of queens do not have a crown. Obviously, this is due to the fact that the Maltese knights made a vow of celibacy when they entered the order.

You can also get a figurine of the Maltese falcon as a keepsake. It is also considered a symbol of Malta. In any shop you will find it made of wood, bronze, glass and even gold. Very often, his images can be found on coins.

 

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