New Orleans Souvenirs: 10 Things to Buy

Are you looking for some New Orleans souvenirs? There are lots of fun and unique products to buy or bring home as gifts to friends and family.

Souvenirs are one of the best ways to tell your friends and family that you are thinking about them while traveling. And it’s also something that’s fun to buy to yourself as a memory from your trip.

So, do you want to know what to buy in New Orleans for your loved ones? Then continue reading below, because here’s a list of the top 10 things to buy in New Orleans:

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Pat O’brien’s Hurricane Glass

Hurricane is a famous drink all over the world and was created at Pat O’Brien’s in New Orleans 76 years ago.

When in New Orleans, you can visit this bar and order a hurricane drink. For a small extra fee you can bring home the glass as a souvenir.

If you know someone who’s a fan of this drink, then this is no doubt one of the best New Orleans souvenirs to buy!

New Orleans Hot Sauce

The people of New Orleans sure love their hot sauces, and so will you if you like spicy food.

In New Orleans you can visit the French Market District and go shopping for these hot products. In this district you’ll find a variety of shops selling both hot sauces and salas – perfect souvenirs for anyone who love to cook.

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Cajun-Inspired Spices

You have to taste the Cajun food when visiting New Orleans. It’s simply delicious and full of flavors.

To bring the taste of the Cajun cuisine with you back home, I would suggest to visit N’awlins Cafe & Spice Emporium where you can shop a variety of spices, sauces, salt, and blends to use in your Cajun cooking back home.

I can recommend tasting the Voodoo seasoning, the garlic hot sauce, and the spicy sea salt.

In addition to these spices they sell some good cajun coffee – also worth buying if you have a coffee-loving friend back home.

Voodoo Dolls

Voodoo is a religion that connects people with nature, spirits, and ancestors. It gained popularity among the African slaves during the 18th century and has been practiced among the locals ever since.

When you’re in New Orleans you’re going to see Voodoo dolls in several stores, as well as other voodoo-related items.

You can visit the Voodoo Museum in New Orleans to learn more about the history of Voodoo, and on the way out you can shop for some voodoo souvenirs.

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Fleur de lis

Fleur de lis is the symbol of the state Louisiana. Everywhere you go you’ll see this symbol on a variety of things.

I can recommend checking out the shop called Mignon Faget. They sell some beautiful jewelry with the fleur de lis symbol. I especially like their pendants and earrings.

Box of Café du Monde beignet mix

Beignets is a pastry that’s rectangular in shape, powdery, and taste similar to donuts.

You can find them all over Louisiana, so make sure to buy a box of these treats and share with your friends and family back home.

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Local Music

In New Orleans you can shop both CDs and vinyls with local music. It’s one of the best and most popular New Orleans souvenirs to buy.

You can shop everything from blues and jazz to zydeco. There are so many good CDs and records to buy.

Mardi Gras Beads & Masks

Most people think of Mardi Gras when thinking of New Orleans. Mardi Gras is a world famous festival that’s held every year in New Orleans.

During this carnival people dress up in fun and colorful outfits with both masks and bead necklaces.

If you happen to be in New Orleans during this festive event, make sure to attend it and wear a mask and some Mardi Gras beads to blend in.

These items will make a nice memory from your trip, and can also be reused by the little ones back home for dress ups.

Photo: shutterstock

Community Coffee Beans

Community Coffee has been around since 1919 and is today a Louisiana tradition.

Buy a bag of these delicious coffee beans as a souvenir from New Orleans. Invite your friends over and tell them all about your adventures over a delicious cup of Community Coffee!

King Cake baby

During Mardi Gras, king cake is eaten by the locals. It’s a colorful cake made from a sweet brioche-like dough that’s filled with various fillings and topped with glazing and dried or candid fruits.

Inside the cake they put a small plastic or porcelain baby. It symbolizes luck and prosperity to whoever finds it in their slice of cake.

If you want to bake this cake at home, make sure to buy one of these small porcelain/plastic babies that you can put inside the cake. I’m sure that your friends will find it hilarious when they find a tiny baby inside their cake.

NOTE: Be careful when eating it so you don’t break your teeth.