Nature, the favorable climate of a small country bordered by the colorful bays of the Adriatic Sea, has long become a popular resort for residents of many countries. 73 km of beaches are filled with companies of young people, families with children, lovers of extreme types of recreation. The time spent here remains in the memory for many years. Not only photographs help to refresh memories, but also original souvenirs brought from the country. For information on what to bring from Montenegro, you are invited to find out from this article.
Prshut
The list of popular gifts from Montenegro necessarily includes drinks and delicious local delicacies. Among them in the first place is prosciutto or pork ham. It is dried or smoked using a special technology. The secrets of the set of spices used are passed down from generation to generation. The inhabitants of the village of Njegushe are famous for their special skill in making prosciutto. After aging in a special brine, pork hams are smoked for about 4 months using beech and oak coals. For almost a year they hang in the purest mountain air.
The cost of such a product cannot be low (the minimum price for 1 kg is 20 €). There are no problems with storing a weighty ham, bought for treating relatives, friends. In a cool, dry place, meat is stored for almost a year (by the way, in a vacuum package purchased in a supermarket, the shelf life reaches 5 years). During this time, you can use it many times for slicing (in the form of very thin, almost transparent pieces) or as the main element of interesting dishes. Served on the table along with slices of melon, it will remind you of a vacation in a beautiful country.
Olive oil
Walking along the streets of the city of Bar, one cannot help but stop next to the oldest olive trees on the planet, listen to local legends and, of course, purchase the famous olive oil of Montenegro. You can get lost among the beautiful bottles with bright labels.
To appreciate the taste, bring a wonderful gift, you should use the following tips:
- From 10 categories of the product produced in the country, one of three options is chosen: natural oil (Virgin), refined form (Refined), cake product (Pomace).
- The most useful is Extra virgin oil, prepared by the cold pressing method without additional chemical purification. It is considered the benchmark for olive oil.
- Product packaging should be made of tinted glass or special metal.
- The label must be marked P.D.O. (Protected Designation of Origin). She points to the implementation of strict control by the EU Commission. The P.G.I. (Protected Geographical Indication), BIO (Organic) inscriptions confirm that the olives were harvested in a specific region and were grown without the use of chemical fertilizers.
- You can buy oil for a gift in a supermarket, specialized, regular stores. In this case, you must read the category of oil, its acidity, date of bottling, awards, participation in exhibitions, competitions. The color of the oil can be from golden to greenish. Gray colors indicate poor product quality. The taste of a quality oil should not be rancid or metallic. It has fruity flavors. The consistency of a high-quality product is thick, homogeneous. The average shelf life of the product is 18 months after filling.
Fruits
Gone are the days when there were queues for southern fruits, it was difficult to buy them. Now even young children know about kiwi, avocado, bananas, tangerines. Their cost in each region is different and not always available for consumption in any quantity. Therefore, you always want to eat juicy fruits during your rest. It is very easy to do this in Montenegro. Fresh fruits (recently removed from the branches) fill any market, shop. And these are figs, mangoes, apricots, peaches, pomegranates, nectarines. It all depends on the time of the trip to rest.
It is useful to remember that it is better to buy them in the markets at the end of the day (due to a sharp decline in prices). As a gift, friends are advised to buy a little-known butcher's fruit (zinzula, unabi, "tree of life"). It tastes like an apple and a pear at the same time. The appearance is reminiscent of dates, and the vitamin C content exceeds the famous lemon. Or the fruit of an exotic persimmon "Japanese apple", reminiscent of a large orange tomato. It is helpful to grab a few packs of delicious dried figs. It is juicy, sweet and costs only € 3 per kg.
Kaymak
Curd cream prepared according to special recipes is considered a national dish among many Turkic-speaking peoples. The technology of making kaymak in Montenegro consists of a large number of skimmed layers of cream and aged for several days at a certain temperature. The result is a thick yellowish mixture with a delicate nutty flavor of the original cheese. The fat content of the product is 40%. It is used as a dessert together with fruits, spread on bread, added during the preparation of dishes from meat and cereals. Such foams are part of the famous "Guryev porridge".
The kaymak contains representatives of a special microflora formed in the process of lactic acid fermentation. It is useful for people who do not tolerate common fats well. It is recommended to buy a kaymak as a gift before leaving. In stores, it is presented in the form of packages of 200-300 g. The cost of 1 kg is 2.5 €. The product will not deteriorate during a long flight.
Lavender
Every corner of this amazing country is saturated with the scent of lavender. It grows everywhere and is actively used by local residents. You cannot pass by the sellers of medicinal herbs without buying it as a souvenir. It can be a beautiful box with fragrant contents. A small cotton pad pouch filled with lavender for excellent aromatherapy. Putting it at home with the bed linen, you can enjoy the smell of freshness and cleanliness for a long time. The cost of such a souvenir is about 2.5 €.
At every step, numerous magnets, paintings, small items in the form of candlesticks, stands, bouquets of dried inflorescences are offered. Residents of Montenegro offer to try during their holidays exotic lavender jam, lavender oil, flavored sugar, delicious buns with the addition of a plant. There is an opportunity to buy a lavender souvenir in Montenegro in pharmacies, private individuals, souvenir shops. In remote resort areas of the country, their cost is much lower than, for example, in Kotor, Budva.
Wine
Among the most popular wines in Europe are the famous brands of Montenegrin wines produced by the Plantaze company from two types of grapes: red, growing near Lake Skadar and white from the vicinity of Podgorica. Rosé wines are created from red grape varieties using a special technology. The famous red wine Vranac (price from 6 to 11 €), white Krstacha (value from 4 to 20 €), delicate pink Rose will be a pleasant gift for relatives and friends.
All wines are natural, the technology of using the powder is not used in the country. Dry, table wines are produced in Montenegro. Lovers of sweet wines can buy the dessert (red, sweet) Medun wine (cost 11 € for 0.5 l). The average price for Montenegrin wines is in the range of 3-30 €. The most expensive, aged wine costs 30 € for 0.75 l. You can buy the product in stores, in special shops located next to the vineyards. It is useful to know that you can take 2 liters of wine and 1 liter of stronger drinks out of the country.
Rakia
The famous fruit vodka with a strength of up to 60 is a traditional drink of the country.These are “plum brandy” (from plums), “lozovacha” (from grapes), “wilmovka” (from pears with the same name of the variety), “kaisievacha” from apricots, apple “yabukovacha”. The composition of brandy can include nuts, honey, herbs, anise. A flavored drink is considered a must at any meal in the country.
They drink from small glasses in small sips. The drink in the shops is considered expensive. Most often they try and buy homemade rakia (moonshine) "domacha" as a gift. The composition, obtained from a mixture of apples, pears, apricots, is called by local residents "dunevich" or "dunya". For a gift, it is profitable to buy a homemade version of brandy in small bottles.
Beer
Almost all tourists order a glass of draft beer at the first visit to the bar, saying the famous phrase "It's chiseled for me." Despite the fact that Montenegro is considered a country of wines, very good beers are produced here (in Niksic). The only brewery Trebjesa began operating in 1896. Later, breweries of private producers of the popular drink appeared.
All varieties are distinguished by their spicy characteristics, but the famous national beer of Montenegro "Nik" and "Nikshitskoe" can be tasted not everywhere. Light types of beer of these names are popular. Its cost in bars, restaurants is about 2 € for a glass of 0.5 liters. For a gift, you can purchase a 0.5 liter tin can for 0.9 cents. There are cans of dark beer.
The national version of beer is made from the purest water, hops, barley. It contains 5% alcohol, up to 12% extract. An interesting brand of beer "Regent" is produced in a small brewery near Podgorica. Many small towns in the country have their own breweries. According to old traditions, restaurants, pubs and bars are located next to them. Here you can taste fresh, young beer and famous varieties: "Nick Cool", "Nick Gold", "Elena", "Becks".
Cheese
The main thing is not to eat too much and not get lost among this yummy country. Always fresh, delicious cheeses "Negushsky", "Plevsky", "Pivsky", "Primorsky", "Kuchsky", etc. are the pride of the local population and are popular with guests of the country. Especially if they are made from goat or sheep milk by cheesemakers from the mountain village of Njegushi. It is kept in aromatic olive oil for almost three months. By the way, in the markets cheeses are often called "young", "old", "cow", "goat".
Among the variety of cheese heads, you can find an unusual cheese product: fossil cheese (it looks like thin leaves), made from special milk according to the original recipe of the inhabitants of the village of Kolashin. Its cost is the highest (10-12 € per 1 kg). Other cheeses are sold at a price of 5-8 € per 1 kg. You can buy fresh, salty, sweet, hard, soft cheese as a delicious gift. An interesting option is pickled cheese, packaged in small jars and drenched in olive oil. You can choose the option you are interested in in stores, in the market.
Mouth guard
It is a small black beanie with a scarlet top. But its appearance is not so simple. This is an old Serbian headdress that has become a symbol of Montenegro. The cap has heraldic embroidery reflecting various historical events of the country. The top is decorated with embroidery from gold threads. The ethnic headdress is an obligatory part of the men's national costume of the Montenegrins.
It enriches and decorates their national dress. For many centuries it has been made from natural homespun materials: hemp, nettle, flax, wool, horsehair, sheep's wool. You can buy a mouthguard at any store, in the market. Its cost in large centers is 15 €, in remote places you can buy a hat for 7-8 €. Capa is one of the most popular souvenirs from Montenegro.
Paintings
Each person seeks to decorate his home. A special element of his desires is the correctly chosen painting. Most often it is a wonderful landscape. It is especially interesting when it depicts familiar places. There are many such unique natural places in Montenegro. It is difficult to choose one landscape for yourself while traveling. I want to see, admire, remember a lot.
Paintings brought as a gift from the country help to do this. It offers three types of paintings: printed (price less than 10 €), author's copies (from 15 to 40 €), works from the funds of art galleries (from 60 to 200 €). Sea and green landscapes, architectural masterpieces of ancient cities are frozen on them. They will be able to decorate any home well. Become a useful, beautiful gift for loved ones and friends.
Jewelry
A trip to Montenegro provides an excellent opportunity to present a unique silver jewelry made of fine silver threads. This is a beautiful openwork work made by local craftsmen in the spirit of the ancient traditions of the country using semi-precious stones. The cost of products ranges from insignificant values to hundreds of €. Average prices for silverware are about 30% lower here than in Moscow.
In Kotor shops you can buy famous Italian jewelry by Rebecca, Michael Kors watches 200-300 €. The receipt for the purchase of expensive products must be kept for presentation at customs. Bracelets, rings, earrings, plates, mugs and other jewelry will be an excellent gift. Splashes of colored resin, corals, beautifully selected shells make any product original. Painted magnets, dishes, watches, bright cans for bulk products can be bought in shops, markets, on the beach. And, of course, a large, beautiful shell, in which the unforgettable Adriatic Sea rustles.
Clothing
In Montenegro, there are two options for purchasing the necessary clothing. The first is related to the geographical location of the country next to Italy. There are a lot of goods in the shops of Montenegro, delivered from Italian factories.. From the capital of world fashion here, the boutiques of Podgorica and Bara are filled with modern models of any brands. There are a lot of inexpensive (not always high-quality) clothing from Turkey. Most often, it is sold on coastal stalls along with goods from China.
The cost of goods is the same as in Moscow, but the quality is higher. During sales (end of August and December), even global brands can be bought with a discount of about 65%. Montenegrin woolen products are popular with tourists (even in summer). These can be factory offers or handmade clothing by local craftsmen. The secrets of its manufacture are passed down from generation to generation. A beautiful sweater, shawl, cashmere scarf, socks, mittens, woolen tablecloth will be an excellent gift for your family.
Dishes
It makes a lot of sense to bring shiny metal pots from the country, there is no frying pans with modern coating. You can also buy them in your home country. But an antique or a painted ceramic dish, an original cup, a beautiful jug, will become a real, memorable gift. The murals made with glaze repeat the wonderful landscapes of the country.
Large flat plates are used for serving hot dishes, stacks, salads. They are made from chamotte, porcelain, red, brown clay, stone. Painting is done manually. The stainless steel turka is one of the most "dishware" souvenirs for coffee lovers. Their cost ranges from 4 to 7 €, depending on the size. Together with her, you can present a tablecloth with an ornament made in the folk style. Usually it is created on the basis of natural woolen threads.
Honey
The appearance of various types of honey is well known to everyone. But when you notice a dark (almost black) product on the shelves next to golden jars, your gaze stops and many questions appear. In European countries, honeydew honey, which has a black tint, is highly valued. It is bought not so much for the sake of a treat as for an effective healing agent. For example, black cumin honey is used to improve stomach activity. It helps to heal wounds, cuts.
Bees make honey not only from nectar, but also from honeydew, honeydew. The rich flora of Montenegro allows them to do this in any weather. Leaves of oaks, maples, lindens, conifers create conditions for the life of numerous aphids, which are a rich source of the sweet liquid used by bees. This is how honeydew honey appears. It is he who needs to be bought as a gift for loved ones and for yourself. This is best done in the shops at the apiaries (for example, at the Moraca monastery). A small jar costs about 9 €.
Religious souvenirs
During the trip, there is an opportunity to purchase interesting ancient icons and other religious souvenirs. The average price of a carved wooden icon depends on the size and is about 3 €. Candles made of colored wax hold a special place among souvenirs. They can be not only straight, ordinary, but also twisted, decorated with original carvings.
The price of a complex candle reaches 15 €. Montenegrin Broianica is considered an important symbol of the country. This is a bracelet that has undergone a special consecration procedure. It is woven by monks from wool of sheep. The bracelet consists of 33 knots, seven intertwined crosses (sometimes it is made from 50, 100, 300 knots). In souvenir shops you have to pay about 2.5 € for a bracelet. In the monastery shops, their cost is higher. Here are sold collections from medicinal herbs, soap, ointments, honey from their own hives.
Cosmetics
At any resort you can choose products for skin and hair care. Here you can easily buy a cosmetic product from world countries. Their cost will be significantly lower than at home (for example, L'Oreal, Bourdjois, Verdeoasi, Body Drench, Maybelline offers).
NYX professional cosmetics are sold at the following prices: lipstick 4 €, mascara 12 €, powder, shadows from 5 €, foundation 16 €. In pharmacies, supermarkets Golden Rose, Catrice, Mustella children's cosmetics are offered at a significantly lower price (almost 2 times). An interesting gift can be an original soap made from natural ingredients, brewed in monasteries. Its cost is 2 €.
Crafts from the vine
Vine weaving has been known among different peoples since ancient times. Furniture, baskets, walls of houses, accessories for fishing, hunting were made from natural material vine. Even in the tomb of Tutankhamun, wicker chairs have been found. The gladiators of Spartacus wore braided battle shields: light and durable. The vegetation of Montenegro made it possible to use willow twigs, grape branches, and reeds as a vine. The main requirement for them is the ability to bend easily, to have the required color.
Most of all, these requirements are met by the stems of the willow, red-blooded, black-blooded, and broom. Such species grow on the shores of lakes and rivers of Montenegro. Even now, beautiful boxes, baskets, vases, chests, rugs, etc. are woven from them. The weaving technique in different regions is different. There are options for complex, intricate weaving. As a souvenir from Montenegro, you can buy beautiful boxes, baskets for Easter cakes, small household utensils, a cheverny basket for picking mushrooms in shops and markets.
Gusli
The gusli can become an original gift for friends and a memorable souvenir that evokes pleasant memories of your stay in Montenegro. This traditional bowed musical instrument has long been the embodiment of the country's folk culture. In souvenir shops and bazaars, you will find one-string or two-string gusli. Made of beech or ash, they were considered the cult of ancestors in the Balkans before Christianity, which is revered here to this day.
Local craftsmen, competing in the decoration of instruments, will offer you a choice of gusli, skillfully decorated with carvings with national ornaments, images of eagles, snakes, goats and prominent personalities. The head of a ram, symbolizing fertility, is an obligatory element of decoration on the harp. Keep in mind that souvenir shops only sell gift items that are not made for play. Their cost varies between 5-6 €.
Dolls
As a gift, children want to find a book with bright pictures, a special toy. This is a doll in a suit that corresponds to a particular people of the world. In Montenegro, several series of dolls, shepherds, soldiers in national clothes are produced. Looking at the gift, the child notes the interesting features of the Montenegrin costumes. For a long time, the country led a closed lifestyle, which was reflected in the clothes of local residents.
She was distinguished by practicality, quality, use of natural raw materials, non-marking shades. Until now, residents use an ancient element of clothing, a string or a woolen blanket in the form of a now fashionable stole. Knee-highs, gaiters, hats (mouth guard), cloth vests (tsmadan). Silk belt of great length, jacket (gun), jacket (kaput) made with high skill and dressed on a doll. Casual mens, womens outfits, festive clothes decorate a beautiful souvenir. According to the outfits, it is easy to imagine the image of a young girl and a married lady. A set of original dolls is often chosen as a gift.
