Rakija
You have already heard of this delicious brandy, a must
, produced locally throughout the Balkans, to be tried on the spot at least once! You won't have any trouble finding it as it is available in supermarkets and small markets, but home-made products are the best. So don't hesitate to ask locals, bar tenders and restaurants (who are usually from the area) for the best places to get homemade rakija. A bottle of locally produced rakija makes an excellent gift, as this alcohol keeps very well for a specific occasion.Njeguški Pršut
Local food is one of the pleasures of a trip to Montenegro. One of the specialties to try (and buy) is a version of prosciutto ham, called Montenegrin prosciutto(Njeguški pršut).
Originating from the small village of Njeguši, it is a dried ham that soaks up all the fresh mountain air and the surrounding coastal air. It has a lively and pleasant taste that you will quickly become addicted to. It can be bought vacuum-packed and is easy to take home.
Brojanica and spirituality
For a really typical gift, a brojanica
is a good choice. It is a small, richly decorated bracelet that is also used to count prayers. They come in different sizes and designs for women, men and children.Whether you choose to use it for religious purposes or as jewelry, it is a memento that will remind you of the spiritual and cultural side of the country. You will easily find them in churches and monasteries. In the monasteries you can also buy various monastic handicrafts such as honey, jam, olive oil, brandy, sweet wine or natural cosmetics.
Copies of icons are offered for sale in all monasteries, for example in the Ostrog Monastery you can buy an icon of St. Vasilije Ostroški.Kapa or Foklor hat
Another souvenir: the kapa. It is a traditional red and black headgear which, even if it does not go with every look, goes well with a long coat in winter. The black of the kapa represents the past and the red represents the battles against the Ottomans, and is now part of the national costume of Montenegro. If you are into history, this is a great souvenir to bring back.
You can also find jewellery, costumes and traditional weapons in the antique shops of Kotor and Pranj.
Locally produced wine
The best variety of wine is called vranac. It is produced along the Mediterranean coast. This delicious red wine, produced since the late 1970s, is one of the most popular Montenegrin products.
You can take home a bottle or two to enjoy with your family and friends while showing off your holiday photos!
Cat Memories
If you visit Kotor in particular, you will see souvenir shops with items dedicated to cats absolutely everywhere. Kotor loves its cats and takes care of them. Just look at the general condition of the stray cats in the city. So you will see in the shops fridge magnets, trinkets and all sorts of other souvenirs decorated with different breeds of cats
Ćilim and tapestry
If you are looking to furnish your home with traditional curtains or rugs, you should head to Niti. It's a region in the northeast of the country known for its excellent handmade furniture, handicrafts and clothing
The ćilim is a woven rug with geometric patterns and shimmering colors, a must-have souvenir, entirely handmade with authentic wool from local sheep.
Grape vinegar
Grape vinegar, recognizable by its particularly acidic taste, is grown locally throughout the country. You can easily find it in souvenir shops, but we advise you to go to rural areas, you will find it locally produced and sold in small markets and farm shops at a very low price!
Farmhouse cheeses
Whether from the north or the south, the quality and method of preparation of cheese is traditional in Montenegro. Knowing that the animals live in the wild, it is the guarantee of the quality of the milk. The cheeses are stored in glass or plastic jars, sometimes vacuum-packed, for more convenient transportation. Kajmak is a cheese speciality that is made from cow's milk curd, which is quite smooth. You will find it everywhere in combination with many dishes, but it is also eaten simply as a spread on bread. In the north of Montenegro, you can find the "whole cheese" which is a mixture of cow's and sheep's milk. In the south, you can taste the goat cheese koziji sir. Don't hesitate to wander through the aisles of the markets in Bar or Ulcinj to find it. There is a variant of it in the form of goat cheese balls called grude. A bit further inland, the cheeses from Pljevlja, Kolašin and Cevo are quality products, remember these town names if you want to taste absolutely all the cheeses of Montenegro! Finally, Njeguši cheese, kept in a cool and airy place for up to three months before tasting, is made of golden yellow circles and reminds the texture of our mountain tomme. Rich in fat, it represents the Montenegrin national pride.
Olives and figs
Olive oil and olives are of very good quality, especially in the south in and around Bar. Dried figs (suve smokve
) are also very good ideas for gifts to take with you, they keep well and do not take up much space in your suitcase. You can also find olive wood objects and utensils for your home or for a decorative gift at the markets in northern towns such as Rožaje or on the coast.Coffee time
If you are a coffee lover, you should take an interest in the džezva. This is the traditional copper vessel with a long stem that is used to make Turkish coffee. You can also combine it with a packet of freshly ground coffee, the complete package and ideal for making Turkish coffee
Popke or wool socks
To keep warm in winter at home, we advise you not to leave without the handmade woollen socks called popke or priglavci (in the north, in Pljevlja).
Music
For music lovers, you can choose a guzla, gusle in Montenegrin, which is a one-stringed fiddle. It is the traditional Serbian instrument, accompanying heroic epics and poems
