The sweets
The Hérault department is particularly renowned for its generous and colorful gastronomy, between the land and the Mediterranean Sea. After sampling Pélardon cheese, IGP Lacaune ham, tielles sétoises or petits pâtés de Pézenas, gardiane de taureau or bougnette du Haut Languedoc, holidaymakers are sure to want to take some home with them. Cheesemongers, butchers and artisans often offer to vacuum-pack their delicacies for the duration of the trip.
On the sweet side, a number of Hérault sweets are also excellent souvenirs to include in your pre-trip shopping. This is particularly true of Grisettes de Montpellier. A clever blend of honey and licorice, these little round sweets, specialties of the Languedoc capital, date back to the Middle Ages. According to some historians, the recipe was found in an old grimoire. In Pézenas, the emphasis is on the famous berlingot. Unlike its contemporaries, the berlingot from Pézenas is rectangular or oval, with alternating translucent and opaque stripes. They come in all flavors. You can also opt for bags of artisanal cookies such as oreillettes or zézettes de Sète, both of which go wonderfully well with a scoop of ice cream or a cup of coffee.
Two other emblematic products of the region often find a place in luggage: olive oil and wine. Local olive growers offer attractive, easy-to-carry bottles, generally made from rare, gourmet combinations. As a complement, a jar of Languedoc Lucques olives, crisp and fleshy to perfection, will brighten up your future aperitifs. As for the winegrowers, you can discover their work in the department's many estates, as well as stopping off at the cellars and specialist stores scattered throughout the region. Natural sweet wines, reds, whites, rosés, liqueurs... The range of tastes is varied, from the most tannic to the lightest, everyone will be able to find a nectar to suit his or her desires or those of the lucky gift recipients.
Memories to keep
In addition to the classic postcard, you'll find plenty of other ideas. The many craftsmen and women of the Hérault offer their creations in their workshops or in dedicated boutiques. Why not take home a piece of pottery from Argileum (Saint-Jean-de-Fos), a glass from Halle du Verre (Claret), a sculpture from Grande-Motte... The towns of Agde and Pézenas are champions in this field, as you need only visit their maisons des métiers d'art to discover an array of treasures. In the boutiques of local designers, you'll find a whole host of pretty things: jewelry, textiles, posters, decorations, stationery...
While arts and crafts are emblematic of the region, they're not the only option open to you. During your strolls, you can also invest in a work of art by a local artist (Sète is a reference in terms of galleries), buy a typical instrument of the département, such as the Languedoc oboe, or acquire a pavois used for Languedoc jousting...
You'll find most of these ideas and many more in souvenir stores throughout the region, as well as in tourist office boutiques. Over the last few years, these shops have become increasingly important in tourist areas, so that you have access to the very best on the spot: crafts, textiles, cosmetics, gastronomy, books... You can put your trust in these tourism professionals who know their area like the back of their hand.
