Argentina is the most visited South American country and is home to a wonderful mix of culture, cities, and landscapes.
Luckily, if you’ve had a wonderful time in Argentina (or plan to!) and are wondering what Argentina souvenirs to bring back home, you’re not short of options.
From great food and wine to artisanal goods and sports gear, you might even have to buy extra luggage space to feel like you’ve made the most of these souvenirs.
So, chabón, here is my list of the 15 best souvenirs from Argentina to bring home with you.
Table of Contents
1. Wine
Argentinian wine is famous and considered to be some of the best wines on the globe. It is the fifth-largest producer of wine in the world.
Malbec in particular is an Argentinian delicacy, the grapes having been brought from France and flourishing in the Mendoza region.
Whether you’re around Mendoza or not, be sure to bring some wine back home, either to impress your friends or for your own enjoyment. Bear in mind that it will probably be better quality and cheaper if you buy it directly within Mendoza, but major cities will also have a great selection.
2. Yerba mate
Yerba mate is the most popular beverage in Argentina, and anywhere you go in this country you will for sure see people drinking mate out of their unique mate cups.
Mate is often compared to tea, as it is produced by pouring water over the yerba leaves. It is an important cultural practice, with friends following customary rituals such as drinking from one cup and passing it around a circle.
If you love mate, or love tea and want to try a new type of beverage, pick up the yerba mate leaves at any yerba shop. And, lucky for you, they’re very cheap!
3. Mate cup
Any outdoor market in Argentina is sure to have a stand showing off a range of mate cups (sometimes just called a mate in Spanish, or a pocongo or a guampa). I think half of the appeal of drinking mate is the beauty of the cup itself, as they come in some stunning designs.
Interestingly, the cups are commonly made out of calabash. The calabash vine grows large and sturdy fruit, in the shape of a wide bottle, making it traditionally a great utensil for drinking.
4. Dulce de leche
Dulce de leche is another Argentinian delicacy, and will wow all those with a sweet tooth. I was obsessed when I arrived in the country.
It is like caramel in a way but is produced through the caramelization of milk, rather than sugar. While it is used in a variety of baked and sweet goods, often as a filling or icing, it can also be eaten on its own!
Since dulce de leche outside of Latin America is often expensive due to import taxes, it’s a great idea to pick up as big a supply in Argentina as you can. You can find a variety of popular brands, or artisanal types of dulce de leche in some markets and specific shops.
5. Leather goods
Argentina has a booming leather industry, dating back to the Spanish colonization of the continent. Upon the establishment of Buenos Aires as a colony, Europeans started bringing cattle, establishing a strong beef and leather industry.
A variety of leather stores can be found in the Argentinian capital and beyond, suiting a range of budgets and styles.
6. Guanaco wool
The guanaco is one of the most common animals found throughout Argentina, closely related to the camel and also the llama and alpaca. Like alpacas, it is highly valued for its wool, which is both soft and warm.
While vicuña wool is often considered more luxurious, it is controversial as overproduction of the wool has led to worries about conservation. Argentinian guanaco wool provides a wonderful (and also cheaper!) alternative, while still being associated with luxury.
Just be careful and attentive when buying because there will be a number of sellers who try to pass off synthetic fibers as guanaco!
7. Tango shoes
Argentina is, of course, home to the tango. Originating in the 1880s in the Río de la Plata area around Argentina and Uruguay, the dance is now associated across the globe with romance and passion.
If you’re a fan of dancing, want to learn, or simply want a quintessential Argentinian souvenir, what better than a pair of tango shoes? You can find them at specific shops, or even at milongas, the traditional events where tango is danced in the community.
Tango is popular across the country, but more typical of the Argentinian capital, so try to snap up the best shoes in Buenos Aires.
8. Asado knives
Argentina is not just known for its amazing wine, but also its steak, the two often going hand in hand. As discussed above, this industry has its roots in the bringing of cattle to Buenos Aires at the beginning of the Spanish conquest of the region.
Argentinian steak is commonly consumed as an asado, which is a technique of barbequing, and also the name of the social event where friends and family eat the meat.
And since you clearly can’t take a steak back with you, an asado knife is the next best option, also commonly known as a gaucho knife. You can find some beautiful designs across the country, ranging from the everyday asado knife to the most luxurious.
9. Jewelry
The name “Argentina” originally came from the Latin word “argentum”, meaning silver. The region of Río de la Plata, where Buenos Aires is found, is also named River of Silver in Spanish. So, perhaps it’s not surprising that Argentina has such a great reputation for jewelry.
You can find wonderful jewelry in most clothes shops or in jewelers specifically. These can be found in the most commercial areas, such as Palermo and Avenida Santa Fe in Buenos Aires, or in more bohemian areas, such as San Telmo.
San Telmo is a great area for buying antiques, including of course jewelry, for a range of budgets. Visit the San Telmo market for all your artisanal and antique needs, as well as great food.
10. Alfajores
Alfajores are another sweet treat hailing from Argentina and South America. They are shortbread-like cookies, filled with dulce de leche (of course) and covered in coconut.
Alfajores are a common gift amongst Argentinians, often bought for friends and family. So, if you’re looking for the best Argentina gifts, what better than this sweet treat adored by the locals?
Having tried plenty of alfajores, I can tell you that your loved ones won’t be disappointed. Perhaps you’ll even want an extra box for yourself.
11. Cheese
Argentine cheese is another of the country’s culinary delights, perhaps owing to the country’s melting pot culture and large immigration from Italy. Argentina is the country that eats the most cheese in Latin America, and is its second-largest producer.
The country has many varieties to please all those different tastes, from hard to soft, strong to mild, luxury to the everyday.
My personal favorite is Provoleta, which is often grilled and becomes intensely stringy and rich. It is inspired by Italian cheeses from the Calabria region.
12. Fernet
Yes, Argentinians love wine and mate, but I’ve also learned they also fernet!
An originally Italian drink, it has developed an almost cult following in Argentina. In fact, over 75% of all fernet consumed globally is consumed in Argentina. I told you they love it.
A type of amaro developed from different spices that vary by brand, it is commonly mixed with Coca-Cola in Argentina, also making the country one of the biggest consumers of coke in the world.
If you know anyone who loves trying new types of alcohol, or who prefers spirits to wine, fernet is a great choice for an Argentine gift.
13. Chimichurri sauce
Chimichurri is a typical Argentine sauce, used both as an ingredient in some dishes and as a condiment for asado and grilled meat dishes. Its principal ingredient is parsley, usually mixed with a variety of other seasonings such as red wine vinegar, garlic, pepper, and oregano.
Due to its use of herbs and spices, the sauce has a refreshing and tangy taste, which goes great with a lot of other foods.
It’s a great choice of gift for food lovers, especially those who like trying new things or are into their barbeques!
14. Penguin pitcher
Pingüinos (or penguin pitchers) are some of the cutest things to come out of Argentina, other than the penguins themselves. I love them so much that I can’t bear to leave them off this list.
More popular in the past, these vessels in the shape of a penguin are used to serve house wine at home or dinner parties. You’re sure to find them at a variety of parillas (steak restaurants), where of course you’ll fall in love with them.
Because many pingüinos are antique, the best place to find them is the San Telmo market, where you’ll find a whole host of other beautiful, aged objects.
15. Sports jerseys
Since Argentina is football mad, and home to some of the best teams in South America, where better to pick up a sports jersey?
The most popular team is by far CABJ (Club Atlético Boca Juniors). You can’t really go anywhere in Buenos Aires without seeing their blue and yellow shield logo.
Alternatively, you could get yourself the national team jersey, in its beautiful white and light blue colors. Argentina has won the World Cup twice, making it among the best teams in the world. Not a bad jersey to have!
Where to buy Argentinian souvenirs
Part of buying the best Argentinian souvenirs to bring home with you is knowing where to buy them! And in a country as vast as Argentina or a city as huge as Buenos Aires, it can be hard to know where to find the best products.
A good start is always the various markets that take place across the country. The San Telmo Market has a variety of unique and intriguing objects, from antiques to clothes to artisanal dulce de leche. The best times to visit are the weekend.
The feria de Artesanos (artisanal market) is also a great spot if you’re looking for handcrafted items from Argentina and Buenos Aires. This is a great place to snap up an asado knife or a beautifully crafted mate cup. The feria is only open on weekends.
If you’re more of a shopping mall kind of person, you can try Galerías Pacífico, and the surrounding el Centro area. You’ll find stores selling clothes, food, jewelry, and typical souvenir shops. Alto Palermo and Patio Bullrich are also good options.
For more specific souvenirs from Argentina, you can head to some specialist shops or districts. For example, the Villa Crespo neighborhood in Buenos Aires is known as the best place to buy cheap but good-quality Argentine leather goods.
Or, if you’re looking for amazing wine, you will find it in the city and the surrounding region of Mendoza. The wine will be much cheaper and better quality from the suppliers themselves, who you can also visit on your own wine tour.
And, of course, for the classic key rings and magnets, you’ll have so much choice anywhere you go so no need to go specifically looking for them.
So now you know where to find these Argentinian gifts too, that concludes this list of the 15 best souvenirs from Argentina to bring home with you! Which one’s your favorite? Tell us in the comments!
