What are some unique souvenirs from Peru?

What kind of souvenirs should I bring back from my trip to Peru? Peru is a country with a long history, culture and landscape. There are many souvenirs here, and the ones below are just some of them. So what are the unique souvenirs of Peru?

Traditional Sculptures/Masks

These exquisitely ornate sculptures, known as iconoclasts, are an art form that combines the art of sculpture with various magical religious traditions. They are closely associated with Catholic worship and iconography. You can easily buy them in Cusco.

The most iconic image in the iconography is the statue of Nino Manuelito, an infant with a bleeding foot, as well as dolls, angels and three wise kings. The ingredients used are mashed potato flowers, corn syrup, loquat, paste and agave stems.

Traditional Peruvian masks can be considered a unique souvenir if you have the space. They are an important part of Indian culture inherited from before Columbus discovered the New World. People can be seen dancing in masks everywhere during national celebrations and festivals.

Camel fabrics

The national treasure, the alpaca, is not just cute. Chullos, Peruvian wool hats made of alpaca wool, are a perfect souvenir. This hand-knitted, colorful wool hat used to be used by locals to ward off the cold weather of the Andes, but now it's a popular accessory for exotic ethnic styles.

Peru has the largest alpaca population and the largest fiber production in the world. Among them, the alpaca wool of the Suri alpaca is world-famous. Its coarse hardness and warmth are three and seven times higher than that of wool, and it comes in fourteen natural colors. Those who wear it rave about its insulating, impermeable and flame-retardant properties.

In Peru, you can buy alpaca wool textiles in various cities. In addition to hats, there are sweaters, shawls, gloves, socks, jackets, baseball caps, scarves, blankets, and capes. These warm and colorful fabrics seem to be branded with the goodness of Peru.

Pottery

The art of ceramics is an important craft in Peru, occupying the second place in craft production after textiles. The most important Peruvian ceramics are produced in Chulucanas (Piura), Quinua (Ayacucho), pukkala (Puno), Cusco and Shipiba (Ucayali).

The ceramic art of different regions, such as Chulucanas, which uses negative pressure techniques, or Pukkala, which often features musicians, dancers, and the flora and fauna of Lake Titicaca, gives a unique and exotic flavor to the ceramic art we are already familiar with.

Peruvian Musical Instruments

Over the past 10,000 years, Peruvians have developed their own music. In the streets of Peru, you will hear countless times this passionate rhythm with a slight African pallor and European dance music. This melody will be the key to a memory that will evoke infinite memories when we meet again in the future.

Over the centuries, the clever Peruvians have created a wide variety of musical instruments. In addition to the well known Peruvian reed pipe, there are also Andean reed pipes (made of wood, clay, bone and even precious metals), trombones and many more. If you choose to take a musical instrument home, it can take you right back to this vacation.

Pisco

It's impossible for me to come to Peru without hearing about the Pisco wine Pisco. This wine is 400 years old and is made 100% from grape juice. It is high quality and can be drunk straight or blended into different flavored pisco cocktails. If you drink it in Peru, you will never forget its flavor.

The pisco sour is the most traditional and famous pisco cocktail. It is based on pisco brandy, with lime juice, sugar syrup, egg whites and 3 drops of aromatic bitters, giving the whole flavor its own unique stamp.

Flavors such as Grape Pisco and Tropical Aromatic Pisco can also be purchased in Peru, or you can create new cocktails to your liking and bring friends together to savor the national drink.

Silver jewelry/amulets

Silver plating in Peru began in 10,000 BC and played an important role in the Inca Empire. The original purpose was for religious practices. The Incas believed that gold symbolized the sun and silver symbolized the moon, which allowed them to master and pass on the ancient techniques of silver making and silver plating to the present day.

From necklaces to earrings, to pendants and brooches, and even pen holders, a wide range of exquisite decorative items can be purchased in Peru. Graphics are uniquely Peruvian in terms of national and religious characteristics, and their small size makes them especially suitable for travelers with little luggage space.

In Peru, you can also find these red and black fruits called Huayruro (a red bean plant from South America). The Incas believed they brought good luck and prevented people from being "targeted by the devil". You can buy Huayruro pendants, bracelets, necklaces or amulets.

Leather Products

Peru has a long history of leather technology, and its strength, durability, longevity, and value for money are all excellent. You can buy almost all types of leather in Peru: base leather, tanned leather and untanned leather such as belts, handbags, saddles and more.

Peruvians believe in some legends about leather, such as that leather bags tanned from the scrotums of bulls and the udders of cows magically increase the owner's money, and that weasel skins do the same thing because weasels like to hide shiny things in their burrows.

Dolls

For those with children at home, a stuffed animal is a gift that never goes wrong. Peruvians use natural fabrics to make dolls out of local animals such as alpacas, alpacas, pumas, guinea pigs or birds. Animal dolls are usually made from alpaca fetal hair, which is very soft, silky and durable.

Dolls are also popular. You can see dolls dressed in colorful holiday costumes or beautifully embroidered ethnic costumes, which require a great deal of patience and creativity.