From Tea To Handicrafts: The Best Souvenirs To Buy In Munnar

There are plenty of things one can buy from Munnar, whether you're a tea connoisseur, a chocolate fiend or a culture vulture. Here are seven items you should consider purchasing along with suggestions on where to buy them
Best Souvenirs To Buy In Munnar
Kerala has a long tradition of making beautiful handicrafts with ivory, bamboo, palm leaves, seashells, wood and coconut shellslinkbeatz/Shutterstock
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Popularly known as “The Kashmir of South India,” Munnar is known for its beautiful landscapes, unending expanse of tea plantations and pristine valleys. Its mountains are home to exotic species of flora like Neelakurinji, a blue flower that blooms every 12 years, and fauna like giant squirrels, barking deer, and so on. From coffee and handmade chocolates to aromatic oils and traditional clothes, there are plenty of things one can buy from this Keralite hill station. Here are seven items you should consider purchasing in Munnar and suggestions on where to buy them.

Fresh Tea

Munnar is a haven for tea lovers
Munnar is a haven for tea loversSanthosh Varghese/Shutterstock

From mild and light oolong to black, white and green teas that are grown and harvested year-round in the Nilgiri Hills of southern India, Munnar is a haven for tea lovers. The handpicked tea leaves are 100 percent organic and have a rich aroma in every sip. Don't miss a visit to the Tea Museum of Munnar, India’s first such facility dedicated to the history and production of tea.

Where to shop

The Kannan Devan Tea Museum, the Lockhart Tea Factory, the Sidhu Dream Shop and the Kolukkumalai Tea Estate. You can also buy it from local markets. 

Spices

Spices shaped Kerala's tryst with destiny, bringing explorers and traders to the lush region. Over 12 varieties of spice including ginger, garlic, cardamom, vanilla, pepper, cinnamon, coffee, tea, clove and nutmeg are cultivated in Munnar and its neighbouring villages today.

Where to shop

The Spice Gardens or at local markets. You can also consider buying from spice stores like Krishna Super Spices and ASP Nadar and Sons.

Handmade Chocolates

Handmade milk chocolate for sale in Munnar
Handmade milk chocolate for sale in MunnarSnap By Prithvi/Shutterstock

Munnar is known to produce some of the best handmade chocolates in the country. There is an assortment of chocolates available to buy here, but white, dark and nut-filled chocolates are the best-sellers. Visitors can also find peach-, blueberry-, strawberry- and almond-flavoured chocolates in town. In addition to being excellent treats for yourself, they make for sweet gifts for your loved ones, too.

Where to shop

The Munnar Chocolate Factory and local bakeries like Royal Chocolate, the Padman Chocolate Shop and others.

Pure Aromatic Oils

Though not as popular as tea and chocolates, aromatic oils are one of the best things to buy in Munnar. You can buy natural oils like eucalyptus oil, lemongrass oil, sandalwood and tea tree oil from here. They are often used in Ayurvedic treatments and have various therapeutic benefits.

Where to shop

Shops like the Green Land Spice Supermarket and the  Munnar Market specialise in the sale of these oils. 

Coffee

Coffee sachets are one of the top things to buy back from your Munnar trip
Coffee sachets are one of the top things to buy back from your Munnar tripPREJU SURESH/Shutterstock

Coffee is brewed from roasted coffee beans. Darkly coloured, bitter and slightly acidic, Kerala produces two major types of coffee—Robusta and Arabica. The flavour is strong and aromatic so bring back sachets of them for yourself and your loved ones.

Where to shop

Visit local coffee estates or stores like the Munnar Coffee House.

Handicrafts

Munnar is also famous for its handicrafts which are typically made of bamboo, jute and coconut shells. They make for unique souvenirs from the region and are often dyed using natural colours derived from plants, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Where to shop

The Munnar Handicrafts Centre and the Cottage Handicrafts store sell traditional handmade items.

Naturally Dyed Traditional Apparel

A tie-dyed garment in a factory in Munnar
A tie-dyed garment in a factory in MunnarAmitrane/Shutterstock

Created with a blend of traditional and artistic styles, natural dyes are made from leaves, roots and petals and are used to make saris and shawls. Artists make elaborate patterns and motifs on fabrics and clothes using their block printing techniques, so you will be supporting their livelihoods while also bringing back items of beauty.

Where to shop

Local shops like Zero Degree Winter Clothing, Aranya Natural, Munnar Embroidery and others.

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